USA: SABMiller agreed to 3-year work contracts with Miller Brewing Co. employees

Teamster members working at South African Breweries-Miller (SAB-Miller) plants in North Carolina and Texas voted overwhelmingly July 17 to accept a new three-year term contract offer that preserves health care coverage and increases wages, Food Ingredients First communicated July 17.

"This is a major victory for Teamsters working for SAB-Miller," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "The company tried to slash health care benefits and the Teamsters stood up to those threats and refused to back down."

Until the final day of contract negotiations, the company held onto its demand that their Teamster employees would pay $200 a month to be covered by the company's health insurance plan. By converting to the union health plan, the company was able to save $13.5 million in insurance costs over the term of the contract. Workers will pay nothing toward the monthly premium until the final 9 weeks of the three-year agreement.

Jack Cipriani, Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference Director, credited the union's global strategy in securing the strong contracts. SAB-Miller is a transnational company based in London. Miller Beer, a leading beer brewer in the United States, was purchased by SAB in 2002.

The Teamsters reached out to other unions in London and in South Africa to secure their support in the contract fight. The unions, which also represent workers at SAB-Miller around the world, distributed fliers at international locations and wrote letters.

"The impact of this global strategy cannot be underestimated," Cipriani said. "The relationships we've built with these unions will remain important in future dealings with SAB-Miller."

"Our job is not done," Cipriani said. "The full power of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will be behind our brothers and sisters in Irwindale, California as we work to win them a fair contract."

Teamsters represent 1,400 workers at three SAB-Miller plants in North Carolina, Texas and California. These members are part of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference comprised of over 50,000 soft drink, bottled water, beer and liquor workers. Negotiations are continuing at the Irwindale, California plant.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men throughout the United States and Canada.

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