[olympiaworkers] Carlsberg workers walk off job to retain right to drink beer at work

Libcom.org Apr 9 2010

On April 8 2010, 800 Carlsberg factory workers walked off the job after
new management policies tighten restrictions on beer drinking at work.
Carlsberg's truck drivers have followed in sympathy.

Scores of Carlsberg workers walked off their jobs in protest Thursday
after the Danish brewer tightened laid-back rules on workplace drinking
and removed beer coolers from work sites, a company spokesman said.

The warehouse and production workers in Denmark are rebelling against the
company's new alcohol policy, which allows them to drink beer only during
lunch hours in the canteen. Previously, they could help themselves to beer
throughout the day, from coolers placed around the work sites.

The only restriction was "that you could not be drunk at work. It was up
to each and everyone to be responsible," company spokesman Jens Bekke
said.

Carlsberg had considered a stricter drinking policy for years and finally
decided to impose the new rules on April 1, prompting protests from the
staff.

Bekke said around 800 workers went on strike Wednesday and around 250
walked off their jobs Thursday, resulting in interruptions to beer
transports in and around Copenhagen.

Carlsberg's truck drivers joined the strike in sympathy — even though they
are exempt from the new rules, Bekke said. The truck drivers are permitted
to bring three beers from the canteen because they often don't have time
to have lunch there.

The trucks have alcohol ignition locks preventing the drivers from driving
drunk, he added