UK: Belfast Diageo strike suspended after �improved pay offer�

Strike action that a union claimed would lead to a Guinness Zero ‘drought’ has been suspended, The Irish News reported on December 4.

In a statement issued on December 4, union Unite said their planned eight-day strike action at Diageo in Belfast, “that would have seen shortages of Guinness Zero this Christmas, has been suspended following an improved pay offer from the employer”. Around 90 workers were set to strike on Friday 5th December but workers will now vote on the new deal ,they said.

Regional officer for the workforce Michael Keenan said: “Negotiations have resulted in an improved pay offer being made by Diageo and as an act of good will our reps voted to suspend the planned strike action to allow our members to consider and vote on it.”

The planned strike action followed a unanimous ballot rejecting a previous pay offer.

Diageo, however, had disputed the claim the strike would have caused any Guinness Zero shortage insisting there “will be no disruption to the supply of Guinness or Guinness 0.0 over the Christmas period” and that they had contingency plans in place.