E-Malt.com News article: UK: Scottish & Newcastle plant workers vote for strike

Hundreds of brewery workers at a plant in a Berkshire town have voted to take industrial action in a row over pay, a union has revealed, BBC News reported August 7.

Unite union members at the Scottish & Newcastle plant in Reading are angry at plans to cut the link between basic pay, overtime and other enhanced rates.

On Tuesday, the union called for fresh talks to avert a strike.

The news comes after the firm blamed the UK's severe weather and French industrial action for poor profits.

Mick Pollek, Unite's regional official, said: "It has been a long-standing agreement that any increase in basic pay has flowed through to all other rates.

"But according to the deal offered this time the brewery wants to cut the link.

"That's what has angered our members to the point that if the company persists in its stand they will strike."


08 August, 2007