GRENADA BREWERIES LOCK OUT ENDS

Last Updated on Friday, 23 March 2012 19:30 Tuesday, 20 March 2012 17:40

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It is with humility the Management Committee, Union Members and in particular the workers of Grenada Breweries Ltd. represented by the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union have instructed that I convey to you profound gratitude for your moral and material support rendered to the Union and locked-out workers of the Brewery during their sixty five (65) day ordeal.

Had it not been for your unwavering support, the majority shareholder, Ansa McAL of Trinidad and Tobago efforts to starve the workers in its attempt to achieve at best, the destruction of the productive operation of the local Brewery, thus allowing importation of lower cost products out of Trinidad or at least the removal/drastic reduction of the Profit Sharing, a benefit enjoyed by the workers for the past thirty two (32) years would have produced disastrous results.

Your invaluable assistance ensured that the Company was not able to break and subdue the workers who displayed exemplary strength, togetherness, discipline and maturity by their decision to give up part of their entitled Profit Share with the clear understanding it was not only in the workers interest to keep Production of brewed products in Grenada - there by securing their jobs - but it was the best thing for the local economy. Ansa McAL’s intent was made clear by its negotiators perpetual threats to close down the present operation of the Brewery (as late as midnight on February 20th, 2012 the last night of the lock-out) in the presence at different times of the Minister for Labour, Labour Commissioner, Solicitor General, Appointed Conciliators, Minister for Information, Minister for Finance, Council of Churches and Prime Minister.

We are forever indebted to you for your kind assistance in ensuring the workers survival in their encounter with this most ruthless, greedy and debased employer.

Fraternally,

Bert Paterson,

General Secretary.