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United Kingdom: Workers at Boddingtons' famous Strangeways brewery began a three-day strike on November 16 in a bid to save it from the axe, Manchester Online revealed. The brewery is set to close in February, with the loss of 55 jobs. Owners InBev blame poor sales for the decision and say there will be no more talks about saving the historic brewery.

Workers launched their strike at 6am. They also plan a four-day strike from next Monday, November 22. Real ale campaigners Camra and the T&G general union have launched campaigns to save the 226-year-old brewery. Production of the beer, known as the Cream of Manchester, should remain in the city as an important part of "brand heritage", the union says.

The T&G has launched a leaflet campaign urging beer lovers to pressure shops and the big super- market chains - targeting Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrisons - to lobby InBev to ditch the proposed closure. T&G national officer Brian Revell said: "Manchester's prize beer is now to be brewed in South Wales. Since InBev came to the UK it has announced the closure of two breweries and contracted out distribution. This produces more profit for the Belgian aristocrats who control InBev." Workers and the union have vowed to keep fighting the closure and accuse the owners of running a "sham" consultation on proposals to keep it open.

InBev, which also produces Stella Artois and Becks, wants to move production of non-cask ale to its plant in Magor, South Wales, and make cask-ale at Hyde's brewery, in Moss Side. InBev's UK supply chain director, David Randall, said: "We have held meetings with employees and union representatives. Regrettably, nothing has been identified as a viable alternative to closure and to end employee uncertainty we have decided to end the consultation stage. Our focus now will be on mitigating the impact on employees."


17 November, 2004