Teamsters employed by Anheuser-Busch voted by a 99% margin to authorize the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee to call a strike if Anheuser-Busch fails to agree to a strong new contract.

The union is seeking an agreement that improves wages, protects jobs, and secures health care and retirement benefits for 5,000 Teamsters across the company's 12 U.S. breweries. The current agreement expires Feb. 29, 2024.

Under pressure from the Teamsters, A-B tentatively agreements to end tiered health care and restore retiree health benefits last month.

However, Anheuser-Busch has delayed negotiating on important job security issues since mid-November, despite repeated requests by the union. The global beermaker pulled in $58 billion in 2022. The company also recently announced $1 billion in stock buybacks to wealthy investors as it simultaneously ignores the need to protect good jobs.

There aren't any dates set for negotiations, the union said.