Strike hits Guinness production in Dublin

Guinness owner Diageo has won a temporary injunction to stop picketing by members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) at its famous St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin.

The injunction was granted in the High Court this afternoon and will remain in force only until 11am tomorrow (Wednesday, 8 July) in order to allow the TEEU, which was not represented in court, to make a submission.

The drinks giant claimed that the strikers were putting the production of Guinness under threat. Brewing and kegging at the site both ceased this afternoon.

The company warned that, should the disruption continue, the yeast in the process would die and it would take up to 28 days to restart production, causing delays in supply and the added possibility a number of workers would have to be laid off.

In court today, Diageo claimed it had employed electrical contracting company Brooklyn Electrical Services, which had seven employees on site, but that Brooklyn had ceased supplying electrical services yesterday, with two pickets being placed at St James’ Gate and one at Victoria Quay since 8am this morning.

Electricians in Ireland are looking for an 11.3% pay increase, which they claim is long overdue, but employers argue that their demands are unrealistic in the current economic climate and want the electricians to take a 10% reduction in pay.

Alan Lodge, 07.07.2009