MPs told about 'dangerous' pubcos

By Matt Eley Matt

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Trade union Gmb

Angry licensee and trade union the GMB have upped their fight with pubcos over rent levels and beer prices, but have refused to name a date for...

Angry licensee and trade union the GMB have upped their fight with pubcos over rent levels and beer prices, but have refused to name a date for industrial action.

More than 100 licensees and GMB representatives met with around 20 MPs at the union's lobby day at Parliament today.

MPs heard accusations from licensees of pubco abuse, while others said they had been "targeted" after joining the union.

GMB has previously said it plans to take industrial action when it has enough licensee support but at today's meeting - despite calls for a strike by several licensees - general secretary Paul Kenny refused to set a date for action.

He said: "We will push the button but when I do we need to have more than the people in this room to have confidence about what we are doing.

"I am not frightened of taking action but I am frightened of losing and letting people down."

The union is developing a media and political campaign, he added, and would also be seeking legal action over issues such as Brulines.

Kenny was also vocal in his criticisms of the pubcos.

"They are one of the most dangerous groups I have come across," he said.

"They have unbelievable contempt for people in pubs, for Parliament and for trade unions."

Punch Taverns licensee Hayley Brennan, who started the Beercott Revolution Facebook group to urge tied licensees to stop paying pubcos for rent and beer, also addressed the meeting.

She said: "You can't go to the BII, BBPA or CAMRA. The only option we have got is something that is not contaminated.

"The only people that can take us through an industrial trade dispute is a union and that is where the GMB comes in.

"We will run our pubs and they will run our trade dispute."

She added that prior to the public meeting GMB and Beercott members had met with new pubs minister John Healey, who, she said, sympathised with the plight of tied licensees.

Doug Henderson, Labour MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, said he was concerned the issues that used to exisit between tenants and landlords before the Beer Orders are "now between pubcos and tenants".

He added: "This is about your experience and hopefully we can talk to the union about ways about taking this forward and bringing about legislation."

Related topics Legislation

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