The union representing more than 5,000 workers at the 12 breweries operated by Anheuser-Busch InBev in the United States has signaled its members are prepared to go on strike.
A potential walk-out by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters would include workers at the brewery located in the Radisson Business Park off Route 31 just outside Baldwinsville.
The Teamsters represent 373 employees at the Baldwinsville brewery, a union spokeswoman said. The plant, the largest brewery in New York state, has a total workforce of more than 500.
The Teamsters union, through its Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference, is currently in negotiations with Anheuser-Busch on a new contract to replace the one that expires on Feb. 29.
The vote to authorize a strike if the negotiations fall apart was approved by 99% percent of the Teamsters members working for Anheuser-Busch, according to a news release the union issued on Saturday. Nationwide, the Teamsters represent more than 25% of Anheuser-Busch’s workforce.
The union said it is seeking a new contract that “improves wages, protects jobs, and secures health care and retirement benefits.”
“Teamsters stand firm in our fight for the best contract at Anheuser-Busch, and this powerful strike vote proves it. 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 General President Sean M. O’Brien said in the news release. “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.”
In a statement, Anheuser-Busch responded: “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.”
Strike authorization votes by unions do not always lead to walk-outs, and are often used as a bargaining tool, labor analysts say.
The plant in the Radisson business park, known within the company as the “Baldwinsville Brewery,” opened in 1976. It was initially operated by Schlitz Brewing Co. Anheuser-Busch bought in the early 1980s, and after a brief shutdown for renovations reopened it in 1983.
In 2008, Anheuser-Busch was taken over by InBev, a Belgium-based global beer conglomerate, creating the new company, Anheuser-Busch InBev. It is the largest beer company in the world.
The Baldwinsville brewery makes about 75 different beverages, totaling around 6 million barrels per year (the equivalent of 82 million cases). It is larger than the next two big New York state breweries, Genesee in Rochester and F.X. Matt (Saranac) in Utica.
As recently as 2021, about 60 percent of the brewery’s total output was Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Michelob Ultra and other classic “A-B lagers.” Another 10 percent were “craft” beers under brands purchased by A-B, and the remaining 30 percent includes flavored alcohol beverages, seltzers and other non-beer drinks. It continues to branch into more hard seltzers and other specialty products.
Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.