Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale workers strike coulkd lead to summer beer drought
Budweiser faces industrial action after more than 200 workers voted to down tools over a real terms pay cut.
A total of 225 GMB members working at BBG’s Samlesbury site, near Preston, will start an overtime time ban, not engage in training or complete face to face handovers from Wednesday 11 May 2022.
The site brews Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale.
After months of discussion with the world’s biggest brewer they tabled a full and final offer of 3 per cent increase for 2022 and 3 per cent for 2023 with increases in overtime rates.
With the cost-of-living crises and inflation at 9 %, the offer amounts to a massive pay cut in real terms.
Members also support full strike action - which would be the first time.
Strike dates are to be confirmed.
Stephen Boden, GMB Organiser, said:
“This industrial action is a result of Budweiser brewing groups management making a frankly insulting pay offer.
“They are choosing to ignore workers and put profit before people with this derisory pay offer.
“Workers are rightly angry and if this strike goes the distance Budweiser could face a summer beer drought.
“How can they expect hard working staff to accept a real terms pay cut?
“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.”
