Belgium: Hoegaarden workers on strike to protest against InBev’s decision to cut jobs

Workers of the Hoegaarden brewery, in strike since Wednesday to protest against the decision of InBev, according to the Belgian L’Echo

Previously the giant brewer InBev communicated that it would close the Belgium's famous Hoegaarden brewery, associated long-time with classic "white beer." InBev, based in said it would cut about 232 jobs.Production of Hoegaarden Grand Cru and other beers will move to InBev Jupille brewery in the south of Belgium, although the storage and bottling facilities will remain open.

"If we decide on to continue the strike, we will formally ask for the solidarity of the workers of Inbev Louvain", stated the trade unionist from Hoograrden, Luc Gysemberg.

In the 1800, Hoegaarden was a regional brewing centre, with 30 breweries producing the famous "white beers." By the 1950s no white beers were made there. In the 1960s, Pierre Celis revived the style, buying equipment from a defunct brewery and beginning production of his own "white beer."

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