Budweiser sells out. Busch family cashes in for $52 Billion. Belgian beer behemoth is worlds largest with shady labor practices

by TxTeamster Posted July 14, 2008 12:52:41

21 votes
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	Let them sell. Who cares?	1 vote	5%
	It's anti-American to sell to inBev	10 votes	48%
	Business is business	4 votes	19%
	Undecided	4 votes	19%
	None of the above	2 votes	10%

Anheuser Busch Cos. said early Monday it had agreed to a sweetened $52 billion takeover bid from Inbev, heading off what had promised to be a long and acrimonious fight for the maker of Budweiser and Bud Light beers.

The deal would create the world's largest brewer and the fourth-largest consumer product company under the name of Anheuser-Busch InBev.

On its website, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 8,100 of A-B's 30,000 full-time U.S. workers says it wants "to safeguard the unique legacy of Anheuser-Busch, a proud union company and American icon, built by generations of Teamster workers." It warns workers that "InBev's buyout record in Europe and Canada shows that workers and communities that depend on Anheuser-Busch would suffer from a possible erosion of working conditions and even layoffs."

The Teamsters union also says that "to recoup the huge purchase price ... InBev probably would have to cut Anheuser-Busch's operations to the bone," with retiree health care one likely target.

Another American Icon gone.....Bud, Hershey, Heinz and 100s of others.

Should the Busch family had sold out or not?

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Nina ~COB~Yes We Did July 14, 2008 14:45:26

Undecided

+2
It doesn't sound like a good deal for American workers to me. It gives me a sinking feeling to see another American company get bought out. Am I correct in that this is a Belgian company? And is the Union going to be able to hold the same kind of clout?
>> See Replies

Happybarhound August 17, 2008 16:31:45 (edited)

It's anti-American to sell to inBev

+1
This is just another step in the process of the USA being overtaken and ownded by other countries. We have got to do something to stop this!

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jpriceawa July 25, 2008 05:05:26

It's anti-American to sell to inBev

+1
Its disgusting to have that much American history and to let it all go for the almighty dollar. And!! Doesnt Anheiser-Busch family have ENOUGH money!?!
HMMMM lets see greed or American Pride? I'll take greed. Isn't that just a discrace, its so sad.

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me July 22, 2008 06:22:31

It's anti-American to sell to inBev

+1
They should not have sold out!! Americans are going to suffer for it !!

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HeeNalu July 22, 2008 01:16:57

None of the above

American macro-breweries are awful. At least now it's in the hands of Belgians -- people who actually know something about beer.

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TxTeamster to HeeNalu July 22, 2008 12:41:35

They might know something about beer - but they know nothing about how to treat an American Worker.

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me July 21, 2008 14:26:05

It's anti-American to sell to inBev

+1
We will be changing the beer we buy!

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Kyle July 15, 2008 15:45:28

It's anti-American to sell to inBev

+1
Just when we have all this talk about keeping businesses in the U.S this happens. Nice to see that we are still selling out. Looks like it's back to the crappy beer!!

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bud not so wiser July 15, 2008 04:44:36

Business is business

+1
I am so broken hearted. It looks like the signs over the urinals at Bush Gardens that read," The only American owned beer company" will be coming down. Whats next?

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Foo Master Angie July 15, 2008 03:44:58

Undecided

+1
It is a bit disheartening, and I do understand that business is business, but I'm fairly certain that the owners of AB were not hurting for cash.

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TxTeamster to Foo Mas... July 15, 2008 12:07:00

Something tells me the Busch boys never worked a hard day in their lives.

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highdesertgemini July 15, 2008 01:22:36

Undecided

+1
I imagine it's difficult to say "no!" to $52 billion... However, I hoped they would stick with their company and their products. I was about done with beer, anyway...

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Edventure July 14, 2008 15:31:32

None of the above

Why not? If this was a bad thing, our politicians would have put legislation in place that protect the American economy and people from becoming dangerously dependent on foreign concerns. Will we know who really owns it? could be osama, china, korea, iran oh well, The most powerfull nation in the world, i guess, doesn't need the ability and capacity to sustain itself i guess????? The poor teamsters are the least important part of this practice.

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TxTeamster to Edventure July 14, 2008 15:51:29

When you say 'poor Teamsters' do you refer to the Union or the workers? It would be a shame to think you dont care about American families and the jobs that support them.

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Edventure to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 16:21:17

+2
No lack of respect for any effective union of any of Americas labor force union or not. My point, sonewhat sarcastic, was that we are dismanteling this country's biggest assets, and i belive it weakens us as a major power in the world. It also opens up opportunities for the evil doers.

Sorry, for the confusion. ed

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doc July 14, 2008 14:50:04

Business is business

+1
Biz is biz but I'm seeing more and more of what some have called a New World Order.....

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Nina ~COB~Yes We Did July 14, 2008 14:45:26

Undecided

+2
It doesn't sound like a good deal for American workers to me. It gives me a sinking feeling to see another American company get bought out. Am I correct in that this is a Belgian company? And is the Union going to be able to hold the same kind of clout?

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TxTeamster to Nina ~C... July 14, 2008 15:49:31

+1
They come in with a new brand of management and have no respect for the Union contract. First thing they'll want to do is shit all over the retiree benefits.

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Nina ~C... to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 16:59:58

+1
What is happening to our country?

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TxTeamster to Nina ~C... July 14, 2008 17:34:21

+1
I call it Global WalMartization

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Nina ~C... to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 17:42:10

+1
Well put. Sooo, about those tax cuts for corporations, who are we providing them to? Or am I going a little off the mark here?

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TxTeamster to Nina ~C... July 14, 2008 17:51:20

+1
I dont know if tax cuts are part the inBev/Bud equation.

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Nina ~C... to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 18:24:38

But I mean overall, in American economic policy, tax cuts to big corps.

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TxTeamster to Nina ~C... July 14, 2008 18:26:33

+1
Way too often we give the breaks to the Corporations who need it least...

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Nina ~C... to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 18:30:05

That's what I mean. And if they're not even AMERICAN companies, what the hell?

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TxTeamster to Nina ~C... July 14, 2008 19:14:48

+1
OK, I'll say it.

REPUBLICANS

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Nina ~C... to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 19:50:23

+1

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TxTeamster to Nina ~C... July 14, 2008 20:20:10 (edited)

+1
Bush and his cronies and those backroom deals. They been sticking it to us like no other before them. Please remove the sand from the vaseline...........

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Nina ~C... to TxTeamster July 14, 2008 20:25:28

+1

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harrisa July 14, 2008 13:35:36

Undecided

+1
Unfortunately, the way the system works now they may not have had a choice. I don't know how it works but if someone wants a company that is listed on the stock exchange they can just take it if they want it bad enough. Everyone wants a piece of the American pie. Part of the appeal I think for the loyal consumer was that it was very American.

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TxTeamster to harrisa July 14, 2008 13:46:05

I think they had a choice, although without controlling shares it probably was inevitable. $52B is alot of money. I wonder what Augustus the First would do..

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