budanski
05-10-2004, 11:17 AM
;)
B.C. beer supply dwindling as strike wears on
CTV (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1084035497418_28/?hub=Canada)
British Columbia's beer drinkers are starting to get worried about a strike by workers at a beer distribution centre.
The striking workers have refused to distribute any Molson or Labatts brands since their job action began two weeks ago.
"I think it sucks," said one bar patron in Vancouver. "No liquor store or beer and wine store has any bottles left. It's all cans," said a bartender.
About 300 workers at Brewers' Distributors Limited in New Westminster are looking for a 23 per cent raise. They also want a better pension plan and more benefits.
"They offered some money and they offered a few other things, but there hasn't been a proper wage increase there for seven years," Gerry Bergunder of the Brewery, Winery and Distillery Workers Union told the Vancouver Sun.
"We delivered on wage increases, we delivered on the benefits package, casual workers, and an increase in the current pension plan," said Joanne Scott of Brewers' Distributors Limited. "We offered to increase all those areas, and the union at this time just doesn't believe it's fair."
Current wages for the distribution centre's workers range from $17.91 an hour to $24.13.
The strike means many brew-your-own operations are experiencing increased business. "Right now, we've got I'd say about 40 kegs of beer ready for bottling," said Dave Harrop at West Coast U Brew.
The strike is also good news for microbreweries in the province. Some producers say they're having trouble keeping up with the increased demand.
B.C. beer supply dwindling as strike wears on
CTV (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1084035497418_28/?hub=Canada)
British Columbia's beer drinkers are starting to get worried about a strike by workers at a beer distribution centre.
The striking workers have refused to distribute any Molson or Labatts brands since their job action began two weeks ago.
"I think it sucks," said one bar patron in Vancouver. "No liquor store or beer and wine store has any bottles left. It's all cans," said a bartender.
About 300 workers at Brewers' Distributors Limited in New Westminster are looking for a 23 per cent raise. They also want a better pension plan and more benefits.
"They offered some money and they offered a few other things, but there hasn't been a proper wage increase there for seven years," Gerry Bergunder of the Brewery, Winery and Distillery Workers Union told the Vancouver Sun.
"We delivered on wage increases, we delivered on the benefits package, casual workers, and an increase in the current pension plan," said Joanne Scott of Brewers' Distributors Limited. "We offered to increase all those areas, and the union at this time just doesn't believe it's fair."
Current wages for the distribution centre's workers range from $17.91 an hour to $24.13.
The strike means many brew-your-own operations are experiencing increased business. "Right now, we've got I'd say about 40 kegs of beer ready for bottling," said Dave Harrop at West Coast U Brew.
The strike is also good news for microbreweries in the province. Some producers say they're having trouble keeping up with the increased demand.