Strikes will disrupt city bars

Pubs across the UK could face major disruption to their business after another round of failed talks on working conditions.

Talks aimed at averting the threat of disruption were held yesterday where the Unite union warned that if a dispute over working conditions and jobs involving drivers and other staff employed by KNDL (Kuehne and Nagel Drinks Logistics) is not resolved, it will prepare to name dates for industrial action.

27 depots across the country are preparing to take action including a depot in Plymouth.

This would disrupt the supply of many of the most popular beers and soft drinks at premises run by the Enterprise Inns, Trust Inns and Wetherspoons chains.

Airports, cinemas and football clubs, including premiership teams, are also set to have a disrupted service.

The core dispute is that KNDL has breached the ‘national ways agreement’ which governs the working conditions of a workforce. Since then the company’s management has refused to comply with the agreement.
They are planning to re-structure the company by adding three ‘super hubs’ which would supply the company’s depots which would no longer store stock ready to deliever.

Unite, the UK’s largest union, argues that this will diminish the service provided to publicans by reducing flexibility and product quality. They also believe that the changes will lead to job losses at many depots.
Union members voted by 85 per cent in favour of strike action on a turnout of 64 per cent. The union balloted 970 drivers, drayman and warehouse workers.

Unite national officer, Rhys McCarthy, said: "Our members take pride in their jobs and they know that the present system for delivering beer has worked well for more than a century. It provides high levels of customer satisfaction, is responsive and flexible and ensures that the beer is not unsettled by long journeys.

"The changes being pushed through will not work. They will eventually lead to job losses and will cause enormous problems in delivering to customers. For drinkers up and down the country, it could even affect the quality of the beer.

"We have tried to engage with the company but it has repeatedly refused to resolve this dispute. The company now has a final chance otherwise the union will be forced to name dates for action which could seriously disrupt the supplies of the nation's favourite beer and soft drinks."