Beer strikes suspended following improved pay offer

Nationwide strikes by 1,000 GXO drayman who deliver top beer brands have been suspended following an improved pay offer from the company, union Unite said on Friday.

The improved offer of a 4% pay rise by GXO Logistics Drinks (previously XPO Logistics Drinks) will now be voted on by the drayman, who are based at 26 sites around the country.

Unite is recommending that the draymen, responsible for about 40% of the beer deliveries to pubs and other hospitality outlets across the UK, accept the offer.

Strikes scheduled for Tuesday 24 August and Thursday 2 September have been called off while the ballot, which will open on 23 August and closes 31 August, is carried out.

Unite's national officer for food, drink and agriculture, Joe Clarke, said: "Our members keep the nation's beer pumps flowing and pint glasses filled, and they deserve a fair pay rise.

"We believe GXO's offer of 4% delivers this and will be recommending that our members accept the deal. All industrial action has been suspended while we conduct this democratic process.

"We had a very strong mandate for industrial action and Unite is pleased the company have recognised the need for this offer."

Despite this, concerns remain regarding the supply chain with staff shortages reported across the industry – KFC warned customers of disruption recently while last week Nando's was forced to close some of its restaurants due to stock issues, however those restaurants have now reopened.

Kelly Earle, owner of the Rising Sun in Rochester, Kent, posted on Facebook: "As good as this news is the hospitality sector continues to suffer from shortages in regards to driver and warehouse staff and XPO will be continuing to impose some weight limits on deliveries which again will mean I will probably be limited on the amount of barrels I can order.

"Some brewers are also continuing to experience a shortage of barrels which has no doubt been affected due to the empty barrels not collected from open sites and sadly many sitting in those pubs closed during the pandemic. Together these factors may continue to present issues over the coming weeks."

According to a study conducted by haulage solutions platform Haulage Exchange, almost a third (31%) of haulage companies say they are avoiding working with the food and drinks industry due to increased checks and admin on certain products.