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Tuesday, 9th February 2010

Demise of pubs to blame for job losses

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Published Date:
04 February 2009
The government must act now to save British pubs to stop the tide of job losses at a Lancashire brewery.
Alan McVann, the GMB union convener at the Inbev brewery in Samlesbury, near Preston, said plans announced last week to shut the kegging line with the loss of up to 78 jobs were a direct result of the demise of pubs.

He said ministers and pub companies had to unite to stem the flood of closures which had led to a slowdown in orders for kegged beer.

But, he said there was hope that a new bottling line could be installed at the site in the next year as Inbev switches operations to bottle Budweiser beer from its London Stag brewery in the South East, which is due to shut in 2010.

Mr McVann said: "Instead of putting all these new restrictions on pubs, they should be doing something to help them.

"The biggest mistake the government has made is the smoking ban.

"It is not just the government, it is these multi-national pub companies which only seem interested in taking rent off landlords, all of this adds up why we are seeing pubs closing left, right and centre.

The closure of the kegging line shows you it is not just pub landlords which suffer."

He said that talks were underway with company bosses as part of a 30-day consultation into shutting the kegging operation but insisted no decision had been reached on the number of job losses.

If 78 jobs are cut, it would leave a workforce of 140 workers.

The convener said: "It will probably mean a change in shift patterns because we are 24/7 at the moment but nothing is set in stone and, as a union, we have to do everything we can to maintain jobs."

A spokesman for Inbev said: "This is not a reflection on the quality of our employees who are an integral part of this process and will be treated with respect throughout."





lep business

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  • Last Updated: 04 February 2009 5:15 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Preston
 
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1

ChrisC,

South West 05/02/2009 13:41:57
I've got to ask ---- Did Mr McVann and the GMB fight against or support the total smoking ban.
Oh whoops, the Health Committee Report shows Mr Ainsley of the GMB pushing for a total ban in preference to a partial one. Maybe he should have balanced his 'moral case' with the wishes and needs of his members.
The same is true for other unions - Mr Hugh Robertson for the TUC, Ms Pauline Robson of the TGWU and Mr Vincent Borg of UNISON.
Could it be that they were wrong????
2

JudithM,

Yorkshire 05/02/2009 13:50:28
The biggest mistake the government has made is the smoking ban.

And only now does he realise!!! Not a lot of good for all the landlords and Landlady's who have already lost their livlihood and home, is it? Oh yes, and where are the thousands of non-smokers who were promising to flood the pubs, clubs,restaurants and cafe's once the dirty filthy smokers were thrown in the street - not there, are they!!

Give back freedom of choice to the owners and lets see people back in work,back in the pubs and making money.
3

banhater,

uk 05/02/2009 14:48:50
I advice Mr McVann to speak to his General Secretary and to the TUC.
By understandably trying to protect members' health, union leaders were duped by the anti-tobacco industry and it tax payer funded mouthpiece ASH. SHS is less of a health risk than expecting a worker to cross the road on their way to work. That said ventilation/filtration can remove 99.97% of what is a miniscule risk. Welding shops use it and lets face it, welding smoke is unhealthy.So lets see the unions demand an amendment from Allan Johnson. He is one of your own, and will know he has to listen.
4

sheenadon,

darlington 05/02/2009 15:16:50
It comes as no surprise that all these pubs are struggling as there is something like 12 million smokers in this country. Shoving them all outside was never an option. A sensible approach would be to let the landlord decide whether to be a smoking or a non-smoking establishment. Simple.Sensible and an economical answer.I think the powers that be underestimated the sheer volume of people who never wanted a ban in the first place and incidentally were never given the chance to voice their opinions.
5

helend498,

Lancs 05/02/2009 16:10:50
"The biggest mistake the government has made is the smoking ban."

Yes it was Mr McVann. There was nothing wrong with an element of choice to cater for everyone. They were duped (like many others) by the heavily funded anti-smoking lobbies.
It's about time they owned up to their mistakes and rectified this to slow down the destruction that this legislation has had on this industry.
What is happening to their cries of - we'll do anything to safeguard jobs? If they mean this, they would amend this ban immediately. If they don't, then they obviously don't mean what they say.
6

mandyv,

05/02/2009 17:16:11
Mr McVann said: "Instead of putting all these new restrictions on pubs, they should be doing something to help them.

"The biggest mistake the government has made is the smoking ban.

Yes that is one of the biggest mistakes Mr McVann.
Sadly the trade did not stick together like the Spanish ect. It is a long way to go for a drink though.
The choice should have been the landlords/landladies, not the ANTIS, the Government or customers. The customers should have a choice of where the choose to spend their money.
freedom2choose.info for smokers and non-smokers alike, fighting for choice and TRUTH
7

Iris Beltram,

England 07/02/2009 21:46:26
"The biggest mistake the government has made is the smoking ban.

Why has it taken so long for anyone to notice ??
From day one of the ban the pubs around me have vecome empty, sterile places of gloom.
Nobody in their right mind would go to a pub, order a drink, leave it on the bar and go out into the street to have a cigarette.
Can't drink on the pavement and can't smoke in the bar !!
What idiots didn't see that this formula does not work.
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