Union to brief Prime Minister on tied pubs

A trade union has been asked to brief the Prime Minister on the plight of tied pubs.

The Morning Advertiser has learnt that the GMB, which has backed the anti-beer tie Fair Pint campaign, first met with advisors of the Prime Minister weeks prior to the publication of the Business and Enterprise Committee report.

At that stage, Gordon Brown's officials were believed to, understandably, be taking a "wait and see" approach in responding to the issues raised on tied pubs.

However, since the publication of the damning report into pubco power on Wednesday, officials are said to be keen to get their hands on a briefing document of the issues involved.

There is expected to be a national GMB meeting with its licensee members at the end of May to discuss the document further.

"The whole issue has moved from the fringes onto the national agenda, thanks to the report," said one source. "I think everyone is shocked and surprised that 67% earn less than £15,000 a year."

Meanwhile, the GMB has written to every Punch and Enterprise tenant inviting them to join the Union and its campaign for lower rents and bigger discounts on beer.

"The Select Committee clearly recognizes that the problems about the imbalance of bargaining power between the pubcos and their tenants will remain regardless of any reference to the Competition Commission and the outcome of that reference," said GMB general secretary Paul Kenny.

"GMB members who are tenants have concluded that the only answer to this imbalance is the traditional one of combination and collective bargaining to secure a fair deal."

Kenny also appeared on the Jeff Randall show on Sky News last night to discuss the pubco-tenant relationship.