Carlsberg truckers decide it’s probably not the best pay offer
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By Joanna Bourke
MORE THAN two-thirds of Carlsberg UK logistics workers have said no to a 2.75% pay rise, but rivals say the deal is a decent one in a struggling economy.
The union Unite balloted 635 Carlsberg UK warehousing and distribution employees across 10 sites over the 2.75% pay award offer, and 72% rejected this. The offer follows a 1.5% salary rise last year, and a pay freeze in 2009.
Unite argues that the offer is less than half the retail price index igure, and therefore a pay cut in real terms, despite Carlsberg UK growing its market share to a current 15.4%, up from 14.5% in 2009.
Other logistics irms in the brewery sector have implemented lower salary awards.
Ian Bearpark, product and distribution director for Blackburn brewery Daniel Thwaites, says: “We have just implemented a 2% pay award. Everyone would have liked more, but accepted it was better than last year – 2.75% seems good to me.” Eddie Gaudie, GMB union oficer for North West and Ireland, says a 2% pay rise has just been agreed for Tradeteam drivers in Preston.
However, in the wider haulage market, operators have argued that Carlsberg UK employees are lucky to be offered anything, because many irms are still freezing wages.
Stuart Laight, MD of Aspray 24, says: “In 2009 our staff actually took a wage drop, and only last year were we able to bring salaries back to what they were, and no rise has been decided yet for 2011. I believe most haulage businesses will remain lat, so big wage rises are unlikely.”