GMB confirms strike action at Budweiser brewery
GMB union members at the AB InBev-owned brewery, in Samlesbury, near Preston, will commence a continuous overtime ban from 13 August as part of their fight to have their colleague reinstated.
Paul Morley, who was the site’s senior health and safety rep, was officially dismissed by AB InBev on 13 June 2018 for ‘refusing a reasonable management request’, the GMB claimed.
Morley had raised concerns over a management initiative to speed up the brewing process, believing management had not conducted a proper assessment into fatigue caused by the new process, the union said. As a result, he was sacked, it added.
AB InBev claim rebuttal
AB InBev rebutted the claim that the employee in question was dismissed for raising health and safety concerns, adding it “would never dismiss any employee for such reason”.
A spokesperson for the company said while it couldn’t go into detail on ongoing employee cases, health and safety was its “number one priority”.
The spokesperson added: “We take our commitment to health and safety seriously and ensure that all processes adhere to our high standards, as well as to legal requirements. The safety of our processes has been confirmed using a certified assessment tool from the Health & Safety Executive.
‘Will continue to have a dialogue’
“As part of our usual approach and focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, we will continue to have a dialogue with trade union representatives.”
GMB regional organiser Shaun Buckley said: “GMB members at AB InBev are taking industrial action in solidarity with Paul Morley as they press for him to be reinstated.
“For Paul to be dismissed when he was looking out for the health and safety of his colleagues is a scandal and our members are taking the fight for his job right to the company.”
