MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Just before 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13th, hours before a midnight deadline, FOX6 News learned MillerCoors has reached an agreement with a union representing brewery workers.



The midnight deadline loomed in a labor dispute between MillerCoors and over 400 brewery workers from Local 9, which is represented by the United Auto Workers Union.



Off the clock MillerCoors employees held what they call an “informational picket” on Thursday afternoon, August 8th. The workers were not on strike, but said it was a looming possibility.



Employees were in the middle of a contract negotiation and said a work stoppage was possible if a deal wasn’t reached.



“We want to make beer, we want to make money, we want to work and let’s not get this construed, no one wants to be out here walking the sidewalks. We want to work,” said Local 9 President Lance Agbuis.



“Worst case scenario is we’re out on strike, 12 midnight on Tuesday night,” said brewery worker representative Nick Sommerville.



More than 400 brewery workers’ contracts expired on Friday, August 2nd, but were then extended to Tuesday, August 13th. Sommerville says the Union and MillerCoors don’t seem to be close to a deal.



A statement released by MillerCoors regarding the labor dispute says:



“MillerCoors and the United Auto Workers, representing our Milwaukee Brewery employees, have successfully reached an agreement in principle on the major provisions of a new labor contract with the Union. The Union will hold a ratification vote meeting this weekend.”



Informational pickets were held in 2004 and 2007 but were quickly resolved. Workers say there hasn’t been a stoppage since 1983.