Mikkeller: a further reminder about why craft beer needs trade unions
The Mikkeller beer celebration takes place in Copenhagen on October 22nd.
Some breweries have pulled out including to their credit Kernel, amidst concerns about harassment and bullying at some locations run by the brewer.
Mikkeller have issued a statement noting that they are addressing the issues but it goes rather wider than that.
They are a brewer that grew quickly with the rise of craft beer, but like some others, did not put in place the people framework, procedures and policies that an employer on any significant scale needs.
Hence incidents took place with no way to resolve them or even raise them.
As beer writer Matthew Curtis has argued (@totalcurtis) craft beer needs to recognise this and change its practices.
However allowing employers to self-regulate, however well intentioned, is just not enough. There needs to be independent scrutiny and accountability where people are not afraid to speak out. That means that its time for craft beer to recognise trade unions. That wont resolve issues in itself but it will be a start
Update
After Kernel, Three Hills Brewery has now pulled out too. This wont change the world or things overnight but as a marker about where craft and modern beer should be heading- towards decently paid employees with good conditions in workplaces where they have independent representation by a union- it is an important.
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