Brewdog: time to recognise a trade union is long overdue
The latest issues to arise around the Scottish brewer Brewdog and its figurehead James Watt are as predictable as they are unsurprising and disgraceful.
An attempt to broker an agreement between ex-Brewdog employees who have raised issues around what has been described as a ‘toxic’ workplace culture and Brewdog, who have engaged with the process has at least temporarily halted. It has become clear that another Brewdog representative not party to these discussions has sought to discover details of those who have complained through legal representations. It appears that Brewdog may have been negotiating in ‘bad faith;.
James Watt has previously complained that those anonymously raising issues have ‘an axe to grind’ said their identities might become public, made a number of allegations against so far unnamed people and threatened Court action.
Bryan Simpson of Unite is right that if Mr Watt had spent time addressing and resolving issues instead of trying to discredit those who complained matters might not have got to this stage.
Brewdog has still not recognised a trade union. If it had done it could have put in place a grievance process, where individuals could raise issues, get them heard and reviewed with independent union representation and probably in many cases put in hand measures to sort matters out without attracting any external publicity at all.
As it is Brewdog’s latest actions would appear to make it even more unlikely that existing employees would feel safe in raising any concerns, even though in reputable employers where unions are recognised this is just part of the business as usual workplace environment.
Brewdog is a brand leader in craft beer. Sadly its actions continue to damage the brand.
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