West End Brewery: Union claims payout victory as Southwark celebrations begin

The union representing workers at Lion’s West End Brewery has claimed victory in the battle for better payouts as the group goes retro with Aussie favourites.

Lion’s West End Brewery, which will close after 160 years of brewing history in South Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

The United Workers Union has claimed victory after securing a minimum $22,000 top-up in redundancy payouts for members at Lion’s West End Brewery operations.

“Because West End workers stood strong and stuck together on December 11, 2020 they won

a guaranteed seven additional weeks’ pay on top of their redundancy, a 2.4 per cent pay increase, a $2000 sign-on bonus and a further bonus of up to $7,000 upon successful closure of the site,” the union’s SA co-ordinator Mark Whenan said.

“Members have won a minimum of $22,000 extra after 17 days on strike.

“West End workers wish to send a big shout out for the support and solidarity from people everywhere that supported the boycott campaign, and the pubs that backed workers in.

“Our members are proud of the outcome they achieved.”

The deal came after the union demanded the site’s potential $80m sale price should be factored into more generous packages for workers.

Protest at the West End Brewery on the 25th November 2020. Pic Tait Schmaal.

The union did its own valuation of the prime eight hectare Thebarton site on the banks of the River Torrens, based on a development including 480 residential units.

“We are pleased to have reached an in-principle agreement with the team at West End, which builds on existing EA (enterprise agreement) entitlements and recognises the outstanding contribution of our team especially in such a challenging year,” a spokeswoman for Lion said.

“This is a very good outcome for our team members, and for Lion.”

A combination of declining beer sales, changing tastes, and costs meant that the brewery was no longer viable, Lion said in October when it announced its decision to end production in SA.

More than half of the 94 workers at the site will lose their jobs when the brewery closes.

The union had been protesting – initially with four-hour rolling stoppages at the brewery, then picketing the site and blocking truck access – for a ‘Fair End’ and an increase to the average redundancy payout of about $135,000.

The brewery is now focused on managing the flow of beer over the busy summer months and celebrating its 160-year history.

The celebration started on Tuesday with the production of a limited edition release of its iconic Southwark Bitter using the original recipe and popular green retro can design for its SA customers.

Cans of Southwark Bitter beer.

The Southwark Bitter was first produced at the West End in 1886 as Walkerville’s Nathan Beer. It was rebranded later to Southwark Bitter.

More limited edition releases are planned ahead of its June end closure.

West End and Southwark will be brewed at eastern states breweries and shipped back to SA following the closure.

There was no update on the proposed sale of the land, which industry experts value at around $60m.