Workers fight to save brewery jobs

WORKERS at Interbrew UK's threatened Boddingtons brewery in Manchester are to be balloted over strike action after last week's talks with management ended in a 24-hour walkout.

Local union members are meeting national leaders of the Transport & General Workers' Union in London on Tuesday to get the go-ahead for the ballot. The T&G is also considering what action it can take at Interbrew's European breweries and headquarters in Belgium.

Earlier this month, Interbrew announced the closure of the 200-year-old Strangeways brewery, putting 56 jobs at risk.

Union representative Franny Joyce said: 'Interbrew told us that it wasn't going to move Bass beer out of its heartland because it would damage the brand. At the same time, we were being told that Boddingtons was moving to Preston and South Wales. It is just unbelievable.'

Philip Malpass of Interbrew UK said: 'This is a disappointing announcement to have to make. The workforce has really put its heart into it, but volumes are still declining. We are brewing it in Manchester, but bottling it in Wales and Lancashire and it just doesn't make economic sense.'

Interbrew says it will be trying to redeploy workers.