Industrial action threatened over brewery closure

April 2, 2008: Unite the union has launched a campaign to stop the closure of Scottish and Newcastle’s (S&N's) Reading brewery and to save 350 jobs.

The union is angry at the company’s recent decision to outsource significant volumes of production to Coors. Management informed Unite representatives that the Reading site was no longer competitive and in February it announced that it would close in 2010.

Unite regional industrial organiser Mick Pollek said: "S&N’s decision to outsource work to a local competitor is a scandal. By taking away work the competitiveness of the Reading brewery has been significantly reduced. We can only assume that the move was designed to undermine the site, thereby preparing way for closure."

Unite is calling on the company to reverse its decision to outsource work and to save the brewery. Unite has also warned new owner Heineken of the problem and will be taking up the issue with it when it takes over ownership.

"If management do not reverse this decision then we will step up our campaign and at this stage nothing will be ruled out including industrial action" added Mr Pollek.

There has been a brewery in Reading for more than 250 years.