The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.30           August 24, 1998 
 
 
Anheuser-Busch Workers Vote `No' To Contract  

BY LEA SHERMAN
HOUSTON - In April, the 8,000 Teamsters who work at 12 Anheuser-Busch breweries voted to reject a concession contract, with 77 percent opposed. Voting on an almost identical proposal in July, the unionists rejected it again nationally, with a 54 percent no vote.

"The company used deceptive methods to divide us. They used these referendums; they used a NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] decision; they used a mediator. They kept wearing us down," said Michael O'Donnell, a lab technician in Houston who has worked here for 18 years.

"We're fed up and frustrated. We gave three authorizations to strike. We lost our prime time to fight for a decent contract-the summer season. They were able to divide and conquer," O'Donnell, giving his explanation for the Houston vote of 277 for the contract and 178 against.

Leaders of half of the 16 Teamsters locals involved appealed to the executive board of the International union to stop the second round of voting, arguing that the union constitution bars a second vote on a contract already rejected. The appeal was denied.

The proposed contract guts the union seniority system, increases the mandatory overtime demands, and allows the company to use more part-time and temporary workers while eliminating what they term "non-core" jobs in the production of beer.

Johnny Elizondo, a production worker in the brewery for 18 years, said, "[Owner August A.] Busch noted he would shut down Baldwinsville, New York, and Merrimack, New Hampshire, if we went on strike, and would keep them open if we agreed with the contract. He's trying to put the blame on us if our brothers and sisters lose their jobs. But he'll shut them down anyway if he decides to, no matter what."

Elizondo emphasized the need for union solidarity despite the fact that the second contract passed in the plant. "There are guys here ready to retire who participated in the last strike in 1976. They voted against the contract and are ready to strike.

"Seeing Black, white, Latino, Puerto Rican, men and women GM workers standing together in the strike in Flint gave me a lot of confidence. They didn't walk out; they ran out. You see someone stand up and fight," he added.

A worker with 10 years in the packaging department, who asked not to be named, explained why the contract finally passed here despite deep opposition. "We kept waiting to strike. We gave them the authorization in February, and then we voted 77 percent against it, now we've rejected it by 54 percent."

Workers here do not know what will happen next since the contract was voted down nationally, but ratified in Houston.

O'Donnell said, "We can still hurt them with a strike together with a boycott by the AFL-CIO. This would make a difference."

Several workers said that as of August 1, the company is refusing to collect union dues through checkoff, and will implement portions of the rejected contract on grievances, arbitration, and other union-related matters.

Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest brewery, has made more than $1 billion in profit in each of the past two years garnering 45 percent of the U.S. beer market.  
 
 
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