Massive blow to Brits as strikes threaten Christmas booze shortage
WORKERS at brewery giant Greene King are going on strike over the festive season.
Nearly 200 staff will stage 48-hour walkouts from December 21 and December 28 in a row over pay, union sources say.
A five-day strike recently ended without resolution.
The Unite union said members rejected a three per cent pay offer and one-off payment of £650. They are demanding a 7.8 per cent rise.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Greene King’s owners are incredibly wealthy. It needs to make a decent pay offer.”
“Unite, which is now entirely focussed on defending the jobs, pay and conditions of its members, will not idly stand by while a wealthy company tries to further boost its profits by subjecting its workers to substantial real terms pay cuts.
“Unite members at Greene King will receive the union’s complete and total support throughout their dispute.”
The walkout will affect the firm’s distribution networks at Bury St Edmunds, Eastwood in Notts and Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
Staff in the warehouses, in the brewhouse, kegging and bottling plants will all join the picket lines.