US: Miller workers prepare to strike

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 22 June 2006

Talks are continuing between Miller Brewing and workers at three of its sites in the US after employees voted to strike due to a dispute over healthcare.

Workers in North Carolina, Texas and California may take industrial action after Miller rejected a union proposal that, they claim, would have saved the brewer a "significant amount of money" on healthcare.

Employees say they have been forced to prepare to strike, due to Miller's "inflexibility" on the issue of health care. "These three locals are one united workforce. SABMiller may be coordinated, but we are just as in sync - with our members and our negotiating teams," said Jack Cipriani, brewery and soft drink conference director for the Teamsters union. "If it takes going out on strike to show Miller that it needs to do the right thing by its workers, then that's where we will go next."

A Miller spokesman told just-drinks that the brewer was hoping to strike a deal with its employees. "We remain hopeful that an agreement satisfactory to all partners will be reached."

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: SABMiller