BBG worker strikes spark Xmas beer drought fears
Staff at the company’s Salmesbury site in Lancashire, which brews Becks, Boddingtons, Budweiser and Stella Artois, are on strike until 7am on Saturday 22 October.
Meetings collapsed between union GMB, conciliation service ACAS and BBG last week after the pay offer was increased by £250 for 2023.
GMB organiser Stephen Boden said: “We don’t believe there is any real desire from BBG to resolve this dispute. The work force is losing confidence in the management team.
“Workers are now on strike until Saturday. This industrial action will impact all departments and shifts across the site and carries the risk of a Christmas beer drought.
Derisory offer
He added: “BBG continues to ignore workers and put profit before people with this derisory pay offer. Workers are rightly angry.
“But it’s not too late for management to listen to workers and get back round the table with us to work out a fair deal.”
BBG workers previously downed tools in the summer after turning down a pay offer, which GMB labelled “derisory”.
On the latest walk out, a spokesperson from the brewer added: “BBG has a positive and long-standing relationship with the GMB however, despite open negotiations, the GMB has confirmed continued industrial action at our Samlesbury brewery.
“We are disappointed the ACAS conciliation process has not been successful and continue to work towards a solution.”
The spokesperson outlined the benefits the business offers its team members and investment it has made in the company.
Competitive package
They said: “Our people are our greatest strength and as such, we are proud to offer a competitive package – wages in the brewery are in the top 10% for the region and a range of benefits are provided including private medical cover, wellbeing allowance, access to the Verhelst Foundation to support physical and mental wellbeing, a ‘perks at work’ programme, product vouchers, opportunities for scholarship funds and bonuses.
“We’ve made significant investments in Samlesbury, which have resulted in further innovation and automation, additional skills development, promotions and many new job opportunities. Over recent years we have increased our headcount by more than 65."
The spokesperson outlined how the business had put plans in place to ensure the impact would be minimal.
“We have a very dedicated and talented leadership team to support with the production of our much-loved beers and do not expect any beer shortages," they said.
“We have implemented plans to ensure supply has not been interrupted, including enhanced logistics measures and cooperation with transport partners to minimise the impact to customers and consumers.”
They went on to say while the company had not yet reached an agreement, it continued to work towards a “mutually acceptable solution”.
