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http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co...yContent&sourceNode=138484&contentPK=10888546
OUR PUBS COULD RUN OUT OF BEER
10:30 - 04 September 2004
County pubs could run dry if a bitter dispute between a union and one of the UK's biggest beer companies escalates into strike action.
Staff at Gloucester-based Tradeteam, which delivers beer for Interbrew UK, could be set for industrial action after a controversial decision to "rearrange" their contracts. This means pay cuts of up to £3,000 a year, altered work patterns and worsened terms and conditions for around 75 staff at the Eastern Avenue depot.
An informal ballot has now been launched at the Gloucester depot to gauge employees' feelings. A formal ballot could then follow, possibly leading to a strike.
Tradeteam has depots all over the UK, including Knowsley, Sheffield, London and Glasgow, delivering products including Stella Artois, Castlemaine XXXX, Boddingtons and Strongbow, so any walk-out could have ramifications countrywide.
Peter Sinclair, landlord of The Fountain Inn, in Westgate Street, Gloucester, said the results of a strike could be "catastrophic" for the pub trade in the county.
"It could have quite devastating effect," he said. Mr Sinclair is bound to a contract to buy his beer from Interbrew but has a clause allowing him to go elsewhere if the company fails to deliver.
He said: "We would have to source elsewhere but everybody else would do the same thing.
"If you can't get any beer, it's serious for everyone."
Tradeteam is a "third-generation contractor", the distributive functions it performs originally undertaken by Whitbread, then Interbrew, and now Tradeteam.
As each company has taken over, workers say employment terms have progressively worsened.
This means those on Whitbreadcontracts enjoy far better terms than those on Tradeteam contracts, despite working side by side.
Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) regional organiser Andy Hamblin claimed bosses had made the changes in order to level contracts down to those offered by Tradeteam and offer compensation packages instead.
He launched the informal ballot last week after meeting with management.
He said: "They have increased the compensation package for everybody. They're attempting to buy out the contracts. It's a three-year buy-out of the terms and conditions.
"We want them to maintain the contracts they have got.
"The ballot offers three options - no action, action short of strike action, or strike action."
He said the mood among staff was "hostile".
A spokesperson for Tradeteam and Interbrew said: "Tradeteam is conducting discussions with staff and union representatives relating to its site in Gloucester.
"At this stage, no firm agreements or decisions relating to the above have been reached as there will be further meetings and close consultations with all parties to reach an agreement."
The deadline for the ballot is next Monday afternoon after which it should be known whether a formal ballot for action will be held.
OUR PUBS COULD RUN OUT OF BEER
10:30 - 04 September 2004
County pubs could run dry if a bitter dispute between a union and one of the UK's biggest beer companies escalates into strike action.
Staff at Gloucester-based Tradeteam, which delivers beer for Interbrew UK, could be set for industrial action after a controversial decision to "rearrange" their contracts. This means pay cuts of up to £3,000 a year, altered work patterns and worsened terms and conditions for around 75 staff at the Eastern Avenue depot.
An informal ballot has now been launched at the Gloucester depot to gauge employees' feelings. A formal ballot could then follow, possibly leading to a strike.
Tradeteam has depots all over the UK, including Knowsley, Sheffield, London and Glasgow, delivering products including Stella Artois, Castlemaine XXXX, Boddingtons and Strongbow, so any walk-out could have ramifications countrywide.
Peter Sinclair, landlord of The Fountain Inn, in Westgate Street, Gloucester, said the results of a strike could be "catastrophic" for the pub trade in the county.
"It could have quite devastating effect," he said. Mr Sinclair is bound to a contract to buy his beer from Interbrew but has a clause allowing him to go elsewhere if the company fails to deliver.
He said: "We would have to source elsewhere but everybody else would do the same thing.
"If you can't get any beer, it's serious for everyone."
Tradeteam is a "third-generation contractor", the distributive functions it performs originally undertaken by Whitbread, then Interbrew, and now Tradeteam.
As each company has taken over, workers say employment terms have progressively worsened.
This means those on Whitbreadcontracts enjoy far better terms than those on Tradeteam contracts, despite working side by side.
Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) regional organiser Andy Hamblin claimed bosses had made the changes in order to level contracts down to those offered by Tradeteam and offer compensation packages instead.
He launched the informal ballot last week after meeting with management.
He said: "They have increased the compensation package for everybody. They're attempting to buy out the contracts. It's a three-year buy-out of the terms and conditions.
"We want them to maintain the contracts they have got.
"The ballot offers three options - no action, action short of strike action, or strike action."
He said the mood among staff was "hostile".
A spokesperson for Tradeteam and Interbrew said: "Tradeteam is conducting discussions with staff and union representatives relating to its site in Gloucester.
"At this stage, no firm agreements or decisions relating to the above have been reached as there will be further meetings and close consultations with all parties to reach an agreement."
The deadline for the ballot is next Monday afternoon after which it should be known whether a formal ballot for action will be held.
