Teamsters Union Strikes Anheuser-Busch Distributor

DENVER (AP) — The Teamsters union began a strike today against the Anheuser-Busch distributor for the Denver area.

Steve Vairma, the head of Local 435, said 109 truck drivers and warehouse workers walked off the job early today over wage and health insurance issues.

He said the company had offered the workers a 2.8 percent annual wage increase, which he said compares poorly to the 3.5 percent to 4 percent offered by other companies. Drivers currently make about $13 an hour. The company also wants drivers to pick up a portion of

n increase in health insurance costs, Vairma said.

Vairma said union members were picketing outside the distribution plant today.

The distributorship's general manager, Dale Lippert, said the company and the union ended negotiations over a proposed five-year contract on Friday.

"We feel we made a strong final offer," Lippert said. He said that in addition to the pay increase, the contract proposal includes improvements in other benefits.

Both Vairma and Lippert said no new talks were scheduled.

Lippert said the company has called in Anheuser-Busch workers from similar operations to work during the strike.

"It has not had any impact on our distribution efforts," he said.