Brewery staff plan strike for sacked colleague

Staff at the AB-InBev Brewery in Samlesbury are planning strike action in support of Paul Morley who was dismissed last month.

Company bosses say the former senior health and safety representative was fired for refusing to action a 'reasonable management request'.

However, staff at the site argue that Paul had legitimate health and safety concerns, and therefore his dismissal was unfair.

GMB Union explained that Paul, who was dismissed on June 13, had raised concerns over a management initiative to speed up the brewing process. Paul believes that management has not conducted a proper assessment into fatigue caused by the new process.

Union members at the site will now take part in a full industrial action ballot over the dispute.

Shaun Buckley, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “Paul Morley has been sacked simply for trying to look after the wellbeing of his colleagues. It’s a disgrace.

“GMB understands management may want to streamline processes – all we ask is they follow the appropriate health and safety assessments in doing so. Now GMB members will have the opportunity to support Paul by voting for strike action."

In response, an AB-InBev spokesperson said: "As a responsible brewer and business, health and safety is our number one priority. While we can’t go into detail on individual or ongoing employee cases, we want to emphasise that we did not dismiss the employee in question for raising health and safety concerns and would never dismiss any employee for such reason.

“We take our commitment to health and safety seriously and ensure that all processes adhere to our high standards, as well as to legal requirements. The safety of our processes has been confirmed using a certified assessment tool from the UK body, the Health & Safety Executive. "As part of our usual approach and focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, we will continue to have a dialogue with trade union representatives."