Diageo plays down Guinness shortage as strike planned for Belfast

Workers person voted to onslaught astatine Diageo’s accumulation works successful Belfast but the drinks elephantine insists determination volition beryllium nary shortages of Guinness up of Christmas.

Unite claimed contiguous (28 November) that the Belfast tract produces the zero-alcohol variant of Guinness arsenic it announced astir 90 workers person agreed to locomotion retired for 8 days from 5 December, what the national said was a effect to an “inadequate wage offer”.

Despite Unite’s claims, Just Drinks understands that the Belfast installation astatine Marshalls Road does not nutrient Guinness and is utilized arsenic a canning plant.

Guinness fans whitethorn good reminisce, harking backmost to past December erstwhile Diageo experienced an upsurge successful income partially linked to cardinal sporting events, resulting successful play limits imposed connected supplies to UK customers.

While Unite determination serviceman Michael Keenan suggested contiguous that the Belfast mill “is the world’s biggest shaper of Guinness Zero and this onslaught enactment volition severely disrupt accumulation lines successful the run-up to Christmas”, Diageo played down those claims.

“There volition beryllium nary disruption to the proviso of Guinness oregon Guinness 0.0 implicit the Christmas period,” a Diageo spokesperson said via a statement. “We person contingency plans successful spot to negociate immoderate imaginable interaction astatine our tin packaging tract successful Belfast.”

Unite added successful a connection that unit are demanding a “substantial” wage summation to adjacent the spread with what Diageo employees are getting astatine its mill successful Runcorn, Cheshire, located successful the south-west of England.

Sharon Graham, wide caput for Unite, said: “Diageo is 1 of the largest and astir profitable drinks companies successful the world. It tin afloat spend to marque workers a decent connection but has chosen to enactment profits earlier people.”

Unite had not responded to a petition from Just Drinks to clarify what some sides were asking for and whether further talks were planned up of the onslaught enactment adjacent week.

Diageo besides did not code the finer details down the negotiations erstwhile asked by this publication. However, some parties apportioned blame.

“While we are disappointed by the result of the ballot for concern enactment astatine our tin packaging tract successful Belfast, we powerfully judge that continued engagement is the champion mode of securing a solution that recognises employees for their valued contribution, portion ensuring the semipermanent competitiveness of the site,” the Diageo spokesperson said.

Regional serviceman Keenan suggested the Diageo’ “management needs to halt disrespecting our members and instrumentality to the negotiating array with an connection that meets workers’ wage expectations”.