Strike at Anheuser-Busch

Unions. I have such mixed emotions about the power they wield, especially when it comes to strikes that prevent beer from going out. Anheuser-Busch is restructuring its InBev operations in Europe as part of their cost cutting efforts spurred by the major growth it has taken on in the past several years. It was to be expected right?

A Belgian union official said it was calling on the company to withdraw its restructuring plan, which would cut about 800 jobs in Europe, including 263 in Belgium. “We will continue with the blockades and will discuss whether to intensify our action,” he said. -From Real Beer

I get it but let me put it this way - Belgium might run out of beer!!! OK really? They might run out of Stella but out of beer? Disaster is brewing when the supermarkets stop carrying a popular band of beer?

The company employs about 5,700 people. The plan will mean 303 jobs would be lost in Belgium, 386 in Germany, and 42 in the Netherlands. They are also discussing 150 early retirement packages and 70 new positions as part of a restructure. It's necessary to restructure because beer consumption in Belgium has dropped 20%.

Angered by the job losses, union members took 10 managers hostage at the group's Jupille brewery in eastern Belgium last Thursday, but the executives were released unharmed the following day, according to the newspaper.-From CNBC

Now supply trucks can't get in and the beer can't get out because of blockades. What do you think? Justified strike or justified restructure?