GMB to hold pub strike roadshows
The GMB plans at least 14 roadshows across the country to inform tied licensees of industrial action before balloting starts in mid-February.
National officer Paul Maloney said meetings had already begun in Yorkshire, but had been held up elsewhere because of the snow.
He said 14 roadshows had so far been scheduled, but that more were likely to follow before licensees would be balloted on industrial action.
The planned action is a switch off of beer flow monitoring system Brulines — "not sabotage or criminal damage as some people have suggested," added Maloney.
"If, after that, the pubcos don't talk to us, we will select a date when we will stop buying from pubcos.
"With the reduced rate licensees will be paying (buying beer outside the tie), some savings will be passed onto customers."
Maloney added that this would prove that consumers were being forced to pay more because of tied-lease agreements with pubcos, which would "fly in the face of the Office of Fair Trading report".
Addressing concerns over the legality of self-employed businesses taking part in industrial action, Maloney said: "Any industrial action breaches contracts."
He said there would be safety in numbers as 25,000 tied licensees acting as a collective would force pubcos to take notice.
Legality
David Morgan, surveyor and managing director of Cookseys DMP, warned that although the GMB is probably technically correct in its advice, the pubco/lessee relationship is clearly set out in the lease contract.
"If you decide to withhold rent, you have just as technically broken the lease contract and the pubco will be within their contractual rights to seek lease forfeiture."
A Punch spokeswoman said: "Any licensees considering taking strike action through the GMB should follow the advice from licensee representative bodies such as the BII and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association who are encouraging members to seek legal advice and think carefully before taking any action which may breach their contracts."
