On Saturday, approximately 5,000 members of the Teamsters labor union employed at U.S. beverage giant Anheuser-Busch’s production facilities voted in favor of authorizing a strike if the two parties fail to reach a new contract agreement before its current deal expires at the end of February.
The teamsters reported that 99% of the union’s Anheuser-Busch workers – which make up a quarter of the company’s U.S. total workforce – voted in favor of the strike.
“Our members’ labor, talent, and sacrifice are what put Anheuser-Busch products on the shelf, and we are committed to getting a contract that rewards and recognizes their hard work,” Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said at the time. “If Anheuser-Busch’s executives can’t get their act together to negotiate an agreement that respects workers, we will see them out on the streets.”
“We are committed to negotiating in good faith with the union to reach an agreement that recognizes and rewards the talent, commitment, and drive of our employees,” Anheuser-Busch said in a statement.