Union officials have warned of a 'summer beer drought' after brewery workers voted in favour of full strike action amid a dispute over pay.
The GMB union said that 225 of its members and workers at the BBG Samlesbury site, near Preston, voted to take the action over claims of a real terms pay cut.
Bosses at the brewery, which produces the likes Budweiser, Stella Artois and Becks, offered workers a three per cent increase for 2022 and a three per cent increase for 2023.
They also offered staff an increase in overtime rates.
The GMB union described the offer as ‘insulting’ with inflation at nine per cent amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Workers will start an overtime ban, not engage in training or complete face to face handovers from Wednesday, May 11.
Dates of full strike action are 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.”
The Budweiser Brewing Group has insisted that it has plans in place to “minimise the impact on customers”.
A spokesperson 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.”
