USA: The strike at Western Beverage is not expected to halt flow of Anheuser-Busch beers for July 4

The strike at Western Beverage Co. is not expected to create a shortage of Anheuser-Busch beer in local stores for the July 4 holiday, executives of Western Beverage Co. said on June 28, according to the Statesman Journal.

Jack Willis, executive vice president for Western Beverage, said the company has drawn on a pool of temporary workers and administrative employees to replace the drivers and delivery people on strike. "I'm going to have all the beer out," Willis said, although he added that he'd be working through the weekend in some locations.

About 35 Salem employees of Western Beverage -- which locally supplies Budweiser, Michelob and other Anheuser-Busch products -- are on strike. The workers have been picketing outside Western Beverage's warehouse at 300 Lancaster Drive NE since Monday afternoon, said Robert McKinney, representative for Teamsters Local 324.

They are part of a larger strike also affecting Western Beverage facilities in Eugene, Medford, Newport and Coos Bay, McKinney said. The union has reached an impasse with the company in contract negotiations, particularly over pension and insurance plans.

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