Carlsberg UK truckers should be grateful for an offer of a 2.75% salary rise according to rival brewery logistic firms, as they are still having to offer lower awards or implement pay freezes.
The brewery giant offered its warehousing and distribution staff a 2.75% pay award, following a 1.5% pay rise in 2010 and a pay freeze in 2009. But 72% (497 employees) rejected the offer, arguing that it is less than half the retail price index (RPI), and therefore a pay cut in real times.
However, Roadtransport.com can exclusively reveal that other drinks logistics operators have not offered awards as high as Carlsberg's.
Ian Bearpark, product and distribution director for Blackburn brewery Daniel Thwaites, says: "We have just implemented a 2% pay award, everyone would have liked more but accepted it was better than last year - 2.75% seems good to me."
Eddie Gaudie, GMB union officer for North West and Ireland, says that a 2% pay rise has just been agreed for Tradeteam drivers in Preston.
A spokeswoman at Castleford, West Yorks-based Kenneth Howley Transport, says: "I personally think that we are living in extremely hard times. Although I do sympathise with the employees, I feel that they should take their increase and be appreciative, considering others in the sector are getting nothing."
For the full story see Commercial Motor on 26 May.
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