Vic: Industrial action threatens beer supplies

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2000
Vic: Industrial action threatens beer supplies

MELBOURNE, Aug 4 AAP - Victorian drinkers may face a weekend without their favourite
beers after workers renewed industrial action in a worsening pay dispute.

About 400 workers from three unions stopped producing Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught
cans, bottles and kegs after talks with Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) over their
new enterprise bargaining agreement broke down.

The parties have agreed to a 15 per cent pay rise during the life of the agreement,
however the distribution of the raise and the finishing date of the agreement remain sticking
points.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union spokesman Noel Washington said workers
had banned production and distribution of CUB's two top beers after negotiations broke
down.

Similar bans on VB were lifted last week when the parties negotiated the pay rise.

"Our people have expressed their frustration by re-implementing the bans," Mr Washington said.

"They've threatened to stand people down this afternoon. If that happens, there'll
be an immediate stoppage and that will have an immediate impact (on beer supplies)."

He said some publicans, who had still not received beer supplies after the bans last
week, would be struggling.

"There should be enough (beer) for the footy on Saturday, after that I expect things
will run dry pretty quickly," he said.

CUB spokesman David Park said discussions between the parties were continuing and he
hoped the bans would be lifted to aid the talks.

"Our view is these bans seriously impact on our ability to serve our Victorian customers
who are still inconvenienced by the bans last week," he told AAP.

"If the bans continue stand downs will be inevitable and imminent."

AAP hmg/jlw/cat/bwl

KEYWORD: BEER (CARRIED EARLIER)

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