The best strike in the world... probably

CARLSBERG don’t do industrial strikes but, if they did, they would probably be the best strikes in the world.

But, hang on a minute, it turns out that Carlsberg workers actually do do strikes and, considering the latest one involves workers’ right to drinking on the job, it must be the best strike in the world.

A few hundred warehouse workers and drivers at Danish brewer Carlsberg halted work for two days this week to protest at a company decision to limit beer drinking at work to lunch breaks.

Since the Danish brewer was founded in 1847, workers have been allowed to drink as many beers as they wanted during the day, said Michael Christensen, a representative of the United Federation of Danish Workers, 3F. A company spokesman said that was as long as workers didn’t get drunk.

The strike in Denmark followed the company’s April 1 decision to introduce new rules for employees on beer drinking at work, said Jens Bekke, spokesman at the brewer.

“Yesterday, beers were removed from all refrigerators. The only place you can get a beer in future is in the canteen, at lunch.” he said.

Bekke said drivers retained an old right to three beers per day outside lunch hours, and warehouse workers claimed the same right.

“Because of that, the warehouse staff went on strike, with other staff striking in sympathy,” he said.

He said Carlsberg’s trucks had alcohol locks so drivers would not be able to drink too much and drive.

Mr Bekke said the Confederation of Danish Industry and trade union 3F had agreed the strike was illegal and would impose fines on workers.