For the past week Anheuser-Busch InBev workers have blockaded the company’s plants in Leuven, which brew Stella Artois, and factories in Hoegaarden and Jupille. With all entrances and exits blocked, supplies have been stopped and factories are working on half capacity and are unable to deliver to stores. AB InBev is legally entitled to remove the blockades by force, although union members have said such a move would cause a company-wide strike across Belgium.
The largest European supermarket chains, Carrefour and Delhaize are seeing a steady decline in their beer stocks, with Carrefour saying it has supplies to last only until the weekend. Delhaize has said that some beers will run out completely in the next two or three days if the strike continues.
The protests were sparked by the announcement that AB InBev, one of the world’s largest beer companies, would be cutting its workforce in Western Europe by 10 percent, firing 800 workers, including 263 in Belgium. The company is citing a sharp decrease in beer consumption. In Belgium, beer consumption has dropped by 20 percent.
In response to the announcement, AB InBev employees took 10 brewery managers hostage last week. They were eventually released unharmed.
Despite this drop in consumption, beer supplies are already running low. AB InBev Belgium has said that with production and deliveries being disrupted as a result of the protest blockade, it may have to temporarily lay off staff. The company has said it would hold mediated talks with both white and blue collar union representatives.
A union official has said that the unions will only resume dialogue if the job cut plan is withdrawn.
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Topic: Good News for Beer Drinkers (proper beer that is) (Read 2243 times)