Carlsberg-Tetley workers threaten strike

Angry workers at Carlsberg-Tetley (C-T) are threatening to strike following worsening conditions at the company.

Despite profits climbing 15 per cent, C-T told staff at the distribution depot in Tingley, South West Leeds, that sick pay would be discretionary and the canteen shut down.

Workers have expressed fury over the announcement and say that the company seems to be on a massive cost-cutting exercise - despite the fact profits have soared after a very good year.

The company announced that profits had soared by 15 per cent last month. But last year 51 people took voluntary redundancy after C-T said it was looking to meet profit targets in the tough brewing market.

The threat of strike action comes after workers sent a petition to chief executive Colin Povey. Staff were told the canteen would shut because not enough people used it.

Morale at the plant is said to be at rock bottom.

Donna Cresswell, spokeswoman for the brewer, said the company had not received an official strike threat from workers but admitted it was planning to close down the canteen.

"Hardly anyone uses the canteen," she said. "Its closure has caused some concern but we're looking at alternatives on how to provide hot and cold food."

She said that discretionary sick pay had always been part of the deal and that this had been agreed with the trade union.

"We are clamping down on people who take a sickie and take advantage at the expense of their colleagues," she added. She also dispelled rumours that it had cancelled the staff Christmas party.

"The reason the staff didn't have a Christmas party is because they could not decide what they wanted to do. We've told the union that the money is there when a decision has been reached."

About 550 people are employed at the Leeds brewery and at the distribution depot at Tingley. The second brewery at Northampton employs about 450 people, with the remaining 1,800 employees spread across 16 distribution sites.