Diageo workforce unanimously votes to reject inadequate pay offer and to take strike action

The UK is facing a Guinness zero drought this Christmas as workers at the company’s Belfast brewery announced eight days of strikes next month in a dispute over pay.

The workers who are members of Unite, will begin strike action on Friday 5 December and walkouts will continue until the early hours of Saturday 13 December.

The approximately 90 workers are demanding a substantial increase in pay to close the pay gap with Diageo employees at the company’s site in Runcorn, England.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Diageo is one of the largest and most profitable drinks companies in the world. It can fully afford to make workers a decent offer but has chosen to put profits before people.”

The Belfast site is the largest production site for Diageo’s highly successful Guinness zero product. This year Diageo reported net profits of more than $2.5 billion globally and a key driver of that success is Guinness Zero – the UK’s best-selling alcohol-free beer.

Regional officer Michael Keenan said, “Diageo’s Belfast site is the world’s biggest producer of Guinness Zero and this strike action will severely disrupt production lines in the run-up to Christmas. Management needs to stop disrespecting our members and return to the negotiating table with an offer that meets workers’ pay expectations.”