Drinks supplies to 30,000 pubs and bars could be affected by KNDL strike action

Drinks supplies to up to 30,000 pubs and bars across the UK could be disrupted after the Unite union gave notice of strike action to KNDL (Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics).

The strikes will affect deliveries of Fosters, Heineken, Kronenbourg, John Smith's, Strongbow, plus Britvic soft drinks. The 24-hour action is due to take place from 10am on Wednesday 11 September. There will also be a continuous ban on overtime and a work-to-rule.

Pubs and premises run by Enterprise Inns, Trust Inns and Wetherspoon are likely to be affected, Unite said.

The company also supplies airports, courts, sports clubs, including Premiership football clubs, recreational centres, theatres and cinemas, health clubs, military camps, working men's clubs and the hospitality industry.

Unite is warning that it could step up action, unless the company works with the union to resolve the dispute, which centres what Unite claims is a breach of the "National Ways Agreement", which governs workers' terms and conditions - and which they fear could lead to job losses.

Workers voted by 85% in favour of strike action on a turnout of 64%. The union balloted 970 drivers, drayman and warehouse members, in a move announced yesterday.

The depots affected include: Aberdeen; Bathgate (West Lothian); Birmingham; Bristol; Chandlers Ford (Hampshire); Carlisle; Croydon; Dagenham; Devizes (Wiltshire); Dundee; Faversham (Kent); Greenford (Middlesex); Inverness; Liverpool; Manchester; Newark (Nottinghamshire); Northampton; Norwich; Plymouth; Preston; Reading; Stockton-on-Tees (Cleveland); Swansea; Wakefield; Warrington; Washington (Tyne and Wear); and Welwyn Garden City.

In a restructuring exercise called the Beethoven Project, KNDL wants to introduce three super hubs at Livingstone (West Lothian), Thatcham, near Newbury, and Wakefield from which beer, cider, lager and soft drinks will then be distributed to the above depots.

Unite national officer, Rhys McCarthy said: "KNDL's refusal to take our concerns seriously means there will be significant disruption to the supply of beer right across the country. Whether it's the Houses of Parliament, Manchester City football club or your local Wetherspoons' pub there will be serious consequences.

"We have tried to negotiate with the company but it has stubbornly refused to solve this dispute.

"Our members are proud of their jobs and they know that the present system for delivering beer works and customers are happy."