Fri, 12 Dec 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 'No empty shelves at Christmas' as Guinness workers strike

About 90 workers at a Guinness canning factory in Belfast have walked out in protest over pay.
The trade union Unite claims the workers are seeking a deal that would bring their pay in line with colleagues working at a similar site in Runcorn, England. The company has stated it had contingency plans in place to ensure no disruption to Guinness supply during Christmas. Union representative Billy McFarlane said the strike was necessary "to improve the offer and bring the company back to the table", adding that workers have never taken such action before in 27 years. He claimed that despite Diageo's global profits of over $2.5bn, the pay on offer was insufficient. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham stated that Diageo can afford to level up its workers' pay but has chosen to put profits before people. A Diageo spokesperson said they were disappointed by the vote outcome and claimed their offer was "more than fair and reasonable".
  >>