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EDEN, N.C., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Teamsters will begin collective bargaining negotiations for a new contract for 430 employees at the SABMiller brewery in Eden, North Carolina. Labor leaders representing SABMiller employees from Europe, Africa and Latin America have traveled to the United States this week to meet and show solidarity with Teamsters at the brewery.

The Teamsters have received valuable international support in negotiating with SABMiller, a South African controlled, multinational brewer with operations in over 60 countries. In the United States SABMiller produces such beers as Miller Lite, MGD and Miller High Life.

Visiting North Carolina this week are union leaders Nilton Pena Flores, from the National Union of Peruvian Brewery Workers, Arkadiusz Kozlowski, from the Food and Allied Division of the Polish Union Solidarity, and Katishi Masemola from the South African Food and Allied Workers Union. Joining them are Teamster leaders from locals that represent two other SABMiller breweries: Art Burns from Teamster Local 997 in Fort Worth, TX and Rene Medrano from Teamster Local 896 in Los Angeles, CA. These leaders are being given the opportunity to tour SABMiller's Eden brewery, meet with workers and show the company that its workers from around the world will stand together to improve their wages, benefits and working conditions.

"Our brothers and sisters at these international unions represent hundreds of workers who are fighting for the same rights in the workplace that the members at the Eden brewery are seeking," said Jack Cipriani, President of Teamsters Local 391 in Greensboro, North Carolina. "I thank them for traveling so far to show their support."

Jack Cipriani, President of Local 391 and Director of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Division, will begin negotiations with SABMiller on Tuesday. Over the next several months contract negotiations will commence at the other Teamster-represented SABMiller breweries in Fort Worth, Texas and Irwindale, California. The Teamsters represent over 1,200 employees at SABMiller.

In previous contract negotiations with SABMiller the Teamsters have been forced to defend workers' health benefits, the costs of which the company has sought to shift primarily onto its workers.

"It is our union's hope that SABMiller understands that these workers will not be divided, here in the United States or abroad," Cipriani said. "We enter negotiations with an open mind, but we are committed and determined to protect our members' rights and secure an agreement that reflects the high quality of work they do for the company."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.