Unite stresses to pubs minister importance of ensuring solutions
for the industry are sustainable
24th July 2009
Unite and Justice for Licensees have now met with the minister
of state for further education, skills, apprenticeships and
consumer affairs, Kevin Brennan MP, to step up pressure on
government to help the ailing pub industry as pubs are now closing
at the devastating rate of over 50 pubs per week.
At the meeting, Unite officials stressed the fact that while
they were committed to the mediation process and to direct
engagement with all parties, they were doing so with their eyes
open and there should be no delay in any referral to the
Competition Commission while this process is ongoing to ensure that
the minds of all involved are fully concentrated.
If the mediation is successful in achieving consensus, there
must be some kind of legislative framework to underpin any
agreements to ensure that solutions are meaningful and sustainable
and we’re pleased to get the reassurance from the minister to
consider this point.
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for the food and
hospitality industry, said: “Our members cannot afford to wait much
longer for a solution. We are fully committed to the mediation
process and to working with all stakeholders to find a way forward
and we must take every opportunity to engage with those who wield
the power in the industry. However, there has to be both a fall
back position to deal with this issue if mediation is not
successful as well as a mechanism to embed any solution on a long
term basis.
“We very much welcomed the positive reception from the minister
who gave a commitment to consider further how to ensure that any
outcomes are sustainable.”
Inez Ward from Justice for Licensees said: “Our members are
desperate. As our latest evidence shows, for too many it is already
too late to save their pubs and their livelihoods. Whilst we are
not naïve about the difficulties that face us, we are willing to
fully engage at any opportunity in attempts to resolve the issues
that face us.”
Unite and JFL believe that total abolition of the tie is not the
answer but that there needs to be substantial reform to enable not
just a fairer distribution of profits but also a fairer pricing
structure for consumers.
ENDS
For further information please contact Jennie Formby on 07702
206436 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420
7914 or 07980 224761.
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