Budweiser workers to strike over pay offer
More than 200 Budweiser workers in Lancashire have threatened to take strike action over ‘insulting’ pay offer.
A total of 225 GMB Union members working at Budweiser Brewing Group’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.
The industrial action follows the rejection of a 3% pay increase for 2022 and 2023.
The union said 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 with dates yet 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.”
A spokesperson from Budweiser Brewing Group said: ‘Budweiser Brewing Group has a positive and long-standing relationship with the GMB, however despite open and comprehensive negotiations with the GMB, industrial action has been voted for at our Samlesbury brewery.
“Our people are our greatest strength, and as such we are proud to offer a competitive package – in the 90th percentile for total compensation – with benefits that include private medical cover 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 over 65.
”We are hopeful that through a continued open dialogue we can still reach a mutually acceptable way forward which will avoid industrial action.
“The teams have plans in place to minimise the impact on customers.’
