United Kingdom: Workers fighting plans to close the Boddingtons Brewery, which has been brewed in Manchester for the past 224 years, began a four-day strike on Monday, November 22. Staff are protesting at owner Interbrew's plans to move production from Strangeways, with the loss of a total of 55 jobs, BBC revealed in a statement. The workers also plan to get "brand protection" for the beer, making a move from its home city difficult.

If an application to the EU is successful, it will use the slogans "Cream of Manchester" and "Bees of industry of Manchester" to link the brand with the city, BBC said.

Interbrew is planning to keep its cask ale production in Manchester after the closure - moving it to Hydes Brewery in Moss Side - but the main production work will move to Lancashire, Scotland and Wales. The brewery was acquired by Interbrew as part of its takeover of Whitbread's brewing operations in May 2000. Boddingtons.

24 November, 2004