Posted on 03/25/2010 9:35:35 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
FAIRFIELD — Workers at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield face a hard choice, neither of which is likely to go down as smoothly as fresh, cold beer: retire early or get laid off.
Jim Brickey, vice president for people at the company's St. Louis, Mo., headquarters, confirmed that managers are talking with Teamster union leaders about "voluntary enhanced severance" packages.
"Our employees have expressed interest in this, and we are exploring this option with the union," Brickey said in an e-mail, noting that similar talks are taking place at the company's 11 other breweries across the United States.
If too few of the local brewery's 400 workers elect early retirement, then the company, a subsidiary of Belgian beer giant InBev, will be forced to lay off workers on a weekly basis, he said.
Employees affected by the "temporary" downsizing, he added, will retain full benefits and be eligible for state unemployment pay.
Brickey said offers of early retirement in relation to layoff options are nothing new, noting, "We have enacted voluntary time off and temporary layoffs for many years. We review staffing levels weekly to ensure we are meeting the operational needs of the brewery."
Kevin Kohler, president of Local 896 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union in Vallejo, which represents local brewery workers, did not return a phone call by press time Wednesday.
Brickey said that, despite rumors, corporate leaders do not plan to close the brewery, an airplane hangar-size structure visible from Interstate 80. It operates three bottling and canning lines around the clock.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Jobs? Obama's Number One Priority?
HAA!
They can all go back to school and become Dr’s. for Obumbler.
Apparently in this tough economy people are just drinking their own urine instead of buying Budweiser in the supermarket.
Seriously, thanks Barry for all the millions of jobs you’ve saved this year.
Soon InBev will just ship in beer from Europe.
How’s the Busch family sellout looking to St. Louis now.
You'd think they'd want to keep the workers as people will be drinking heavily!
Their “product” is way overpriced.
Bud is so bad, I don’t care if they made another beer again.
Stinking Fat Belgian Bastards!
I am doing my part to keep Budweiser afloat.
I’ll buy some more tonight.
I thought booze did well in a depressed economy.
Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those on the frontline.
Thank you for your service in fighting for such an important cause.
I'm not sure what to make of that post. InBev doesn't make either Fat Tire or Arrogant Bastard. (And which beer is the "stinking" one, besides Bud?)
Want something to make freepers heads spin? Make a Budweiser coffee drink at Starbucks.
I was talking to a sales rep for the local distributor and he said the flag ship beer sales are off but the premium beers are up as are the cheap (ie Freeper) beers...
I'm not sure what to make of that post. InBev doesn't make either Fat Tire or Arrogant Bastard. (And which beer is the "stinking" one, besides Bud?)
Not many Monty Python fans on this thread.....
Quite a few years back I told my Dad he was drinking gay beer.
When I told him AB was sponsoring the gay olympics he switched to Schmidt and wrote AB a nice letter explaining why.
I would have loved to read that letter.
It was the beginning of the end for Bud when I quit drinking 20 years ago.
If that’s the case then I am responsible for the demise of a few distillers myself. Of course some of those job losses have been offset by gains in the red wine industry...
LOL
Bud’s market share in Texas dropped four points the summer I quit. ;)
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