Teamsters facing down IDOT, Anheuser-Busch

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represent about 4,500 workers in 10 Locals at the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Teamsters throughout the state have voted to authorize a strike if leaders deem it necessary.

The vote came days after rank and file rallies in Ottawa, Schaumburg and other communities where IDOT has nine District offices.

The IDOT Teamsters have been working without contract for seven months, and the union and the State remain far apart despite about 20 bargaining sessions and the presence of a mediator.

A key dispute is IDOT negotiators demanding the Teamsters give up their current health insurance – previously achieved instead of a $3/hour pay raise – and switch to the State of Illinois plan. Because of increased costs, losing their current health-care package would effectively cut workers’ compensation by 23%, according to JP Fyans, President of IBT Local 916 in Springfield.  

The IDOT Teamsters work as snowplow drivers, highway maintenance workers and other safety jobs.

“These hardworking, essential workers help keep our roads safe and our economy moving, especially during the pandemic,” said Ramon Williams, President of Local 700 work in Park Ridge. “They deserve a fair contract that recognizes the value of their

The Teamsters says they’re ready for a work stoppage if progress isn’t forthcoming.

“Our members have sacrificed wages and other benefits in previous negotiations to maintain their Teamster healthcare and we are not going to just walk away from it now without a fight”, said Teamsters Joint Council 25 President Thomas W. Stiede. “These workers keep the Illinois traveling public safe, and it’s unfortunate to see their value being undermined by this administration. We are nearing the breaking-point and may be left with no other choice than to strike this winter.”

IDOT spokesman Paul Wappel issued a statement that the agency “values its employees and looks forward to continuing a successful partnership with all of its collective-bargaining units.”

Elsewhere, the Teamsters have asked Anheuser-Busch to submit its final offer in contract negotiations before the current agreement expires Feb. 29, and the union warns of a strike by 5,000 Teamsters on March 1 if a settlement isn’t reached.

The Teamsters National Negotiating Committee in December announced that 99% of A-B Teamsters nationwide are in favor of striking. The union seeks a new contract with better wages, job security, health care and other benefits. The company proposed a deal threatening Teamster jobs through potential brewery closures and layoffs, the IBT said.

Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien on Feb. 1 said that Anheuser-Busch hasn’t committed to job security since November 16, and that a work stoppage seems unavoidable.

“The halting of beer production at Anheuser-Busch’s U.S. breweries appears imminent,” he said.

At press time, no negotiations have been scheduled. With U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch employs about 5,000 workers at 12 breweries in 11 states.

Contract talks with A-B – maker of Budweiser products, Michelob Ultra, Busch and Stella Artois –stopped in November. Previously the parties did reach agreement on one key issue: eliminating a two-tier health plan.

Anheuser-Busch is owned by AB InBev, which reported $32 billion in profits last year.

“We’ve made our demands clear. We’ve made our expectations clear,” said Padellaro, director of the Teamsters’ brewery conference, speaking to Huffington Post. “This company is going to put themselves on strike come March 1 if we don’t have an agreement that we can all be proud of.”

There’s some optimism in the membership.

“We feel like at this rate the momentum is swinging in our direction,” said D.J. Edwards, also in HuffPost.

“It’s time to take care of the worker,” said the 37-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., Teamster who’s been at A-B for five years.

However, the union seems ready for anything at A-B facilities: Baldwinsville, N.Y.; Cartersville, Ga.; Columbus, Ohio; Fairfield, Calif.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Merrimack, N.H.; Newark, N.J.; St. Louis, Mo., and Williamsburg, Va.

“Without a contract by February 29, there won’t be any beer come March,” the Teamsters warned, and O’Brien added, “If Anheuser-Busch’s executives can’t get their act together to negotiate an agreement that respects workers, we will see them out on the streets.”