Quality Assurance workers at the Anheuser-Busch facility in Baldwinsville, NY, recently ratified their first contract with Local 1149. Steve Richmond, principal officer of Local 1149 and international representative for the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference, said that the breaking point for these workers came when the company wanted to shift more of the health care costs to the workers.

“Although we represent other AB employees at this facility, this particular unit had remained non-union,” Richmond said. “But when they heard they would have to pay more for healthcare costs, they realized they had no job protections being non-union. Now, as part of Local 1149, they have rights and protections on the job and the backing of the 1.4 million members of the Teamsters union!”

Local 1149 represents 425 workers in the production, packaging, warehousing departments of the AB facility.  With the addition of the quality assurance workers, the Teamsters now represent 90 percent of the workforce.

 

 

 

 

 

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