'Beer drought'?

Workers at drinks giant Greene King have announced a rolling programme of strikes into July in a pay dispute that could mean drinkers going thirsty as deliveries dry up.

 

Unite today (February 26) announced the first two days of strike action on March 12-13 by its 160 delivery drivers, draymen, brewery production staff and warehouse workers at Bury St Edmunds, the firm’s Suffolk headquarters, and distribution centres at Abingdon, Oxfordshire and Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

 

The workforce, employed by the  brewing and brands department, voted overwhelmingly for strike action in January angry at years of two per cent pay rises that failed to reflect the soaring cost of living.

 

The workers will strike on 12-13 March depending when their shift starts which, for some, may stretch over to 14 March. The other 12 dates for strike action won’t be announced until 14 days beforehand, as required by law.

 

There will also be a lunchtime protest at the Westgate brewery, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QT on Friday, March 6.

 

The strike comes after the £4.6bn takeover last August of Greene King, which has 3,000 pubs, by CK Asset Holdings.

 

Unite regional officer Mark Jaina said, “These pay negotiations have dragged on for months with a hardline management being blinkered as to the ever-rising cost of living that our members have endured for several years.

 

“We are planning a rolling schedule of strikes into the summer which should send a strong message to the bosses that our members are serious about rectifying this pay injustice. The first two-day strike action is 12-13 March,” he added.

 

“This strike could lead to the severe disruption in supplies to pubs, clubs and restaurants and some drinkers could face a beer drought as a result,” he went on to say.

 

“The relatively new owners of Greene King – CK Asset Holdings – can’t be happy at the reputational damage that strike action will cause to customers so soon after taking control of one of the UK’s premier hospitality and beer brands.

 

“However, there is a window of opportunity before the first strikes next month and we urge the management to take this opportunity for them to get around the table and negotiate in a constructive fashion to resolve this dispute.”