Budweiser workers set for 180-hour strike in ongoing pay dispute
Budweiser workers are set to go on strike for 180 hours between 22 and 29 August over a real terms pay cut.
A total of 275 GMB members at Budweiser Brewing Group's (BBG) Samlesbury site will be participating in the walk-out, due to start at 7am on Monday.
It will continue until 7pm on Bank Holiday Monday, "impacting all departments and shifts across the site".
Staff at the site, which brews Budweiser, Stella Artois, Boddingtons, and Export Pale Ale, had walked out for 36 hours last month and several times in June over pay.
More than nine in ten (93%) GMB members rejected the most recent pay offering from Budweiser.
The GMB has warned that further stoppages have been scheduled for September in case disagreements persist.
Stephen Boden, GMB organiser, said: ‘'We don't believe there is any real desire from Budweiser to resolve this dispute. It's disgraceful that they cancel a meeting the evening before we are due to meet with no real reason.
"They continue 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."
A spokesperson from Budweiser Brewing Group said: "Budweiser Brewing Group has a positive and long-standing relationship with the GMB, however despite continued open negotiations, the GMB have confirmed industrial action at our Samlesbury brewery.
"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 remain committed to finding a mutually acceptable outcome and have been making every effort to manage the negotiations in the most productive manner."
In July, BBG said it had plans in place to minimise the impact of the strikes on customers and supply.
