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Greetings,
This five-year contract impacting thousands of local families includes:
St Louis RallyAs bargaining began in August, rallied hundreds of community supporters to stand with A-B/InBev workers . The rally, held in Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis demonstrated strong community support as Teamsters throughout the country were about to begin negotiations, in the midst of the merger between Anheuser-Busch with global brewing giant InBev. St Louis has cherished the tradition of Anheuser-Busch as a quality employer and important member of our economic community. InBev was quick to provide assurances about its ongoing commitment to St Louis and at this rally the community let InBev know we're watching. We didn't have to wait long to see if InBev would really "walk the walk." On Monday, August 18, 2008 A-B/InBev began talks with 8,000 workers through their union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. A tentative agreement was reached by October which Teamster International Vice-President Jack Cipriani described as "the best agreement we have negotiated with this employer." Read more from Brother Cipriani and other Teamsters leaders on this agreement and the role of community support. Workers' Rights Board BriefingInBev union leaders from Brazil, Belgium and Canada visited St Louis this month to meet with Teamsters from throughout the country preparing to negotiate a new contract with the global brewer. The Greater St Louis Workers' Rights Board (a project of Jobs with Justice) collaborated with the Teamsters to be sure the St Louis community benefitted from the experience and solidarity of these international guests by organizing a private briefing before Saturday's public rally in Kiener Plaza. The closed-door, invitation only event allowed for a more open dialog at this uneasy time. Local community leaders spoke candidly about their concerns around InBev's purchase of Anheuser Busch. International guests were blunt about their experiences, and the challenges their communities faced when InBev purchased their local breweries. "I do fear that jobs will be lost in my district and that it will have a ripple effect through our community," said Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford (59-MO), "I look to JwJ to mobilize community leaders to ensure that we protect jobs, wages and retirees in addition to local philanthropy." Representative Oxford was joined at the briefing by newly elected officials Senator Robin Wright Jones and Rep James Morris; and by representatives of Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon, Senator Claire McCaskill, Congressman Lacy Clay, and Senator Joan Bray. Faith leaders also filled the room, including Jobs with Justice Faith Co-Chairs The Rev. Teresa Mithen of St. John's Episcopal Church and The Rev. Tommie Pierson of Greater St Mark Family Church. The briefing was chaired by The Rev. Dr. Martín Rafanan, ELCA and Director of Gateway Homeless Services. The Jobs with Justice Workers' Rights Board harnesses the power of prominent individuals to provide the community's moral voice for economic issues upon which justice for working men and women rests. Learn more about the St. Louis Workers' Rights Board. |
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"Our demonstration played a huge roll
in achieving our goal of getting an outstanding offer from
A/B. Our members have ratified a five year contract with
job security, substantial wage increases, pension improvements
and, most important, continued Health & Welfare benefits for
our active members and retirees. This contract is without
question the best agreement we have negotiated with this
employer. I appreciate the support you gave us and offer
my thanks to you." 
"Workers can be powerful in this
global economy when we stick together. In this fight we
organized global solidarity with InBev workers throughout the
world, and community solidarity with working people through
JwJ. That's how we win in the future of the labor movement
and why I'm a leader in Jobs with Justice."
