Production at Carlton and United Breweries could shut down over Victoria's AFL finals series as staff threaten industrial action.
But the brewing giant insists it has enough supplies to ensure there's no beer drought through the AFL finals series.
CUB staff at Melbourne's Abbotsford plant have voted in favour of stoppages, after seven months of pay negotiations broke down.
Warehouse workers have already held two-hour stoppages which haven't impacted supply, CUB spokeswoman Jennifer Howard says.
"There's plenty of beer for the grand final," she told AAP.
The Abbotsford plant produces Carlton Draught, VB and Crown Lager beers.
CUB will monitor stoppages and the impact to beer supplies in the coming weeks, and will use its brewing and networks logistics to pick up any shortfall.
"Clearly our preference is to keep the parties talking and support our customers and consumers through peak times," she said.
United Voice has refused to comment on the state of negotiations with brewers, or on the industrial action plans, while the CFMEU referred questions to United Voice.
The opposition says Victoria's rise in industrial action is concerning.
"We've got train strikes, tram strikes, cab strikes, beer strikes, we are becoming Victoria the state of strikes," Liberal leader Matthew Guy said.
"In just nine months of Labor government we've descended from a stable place to live, work and invest, into probably the most chaotic in Australia."
A spokeswoman for Victorian Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins said the government has no role in the dispute.
"This is a private industrial matter, and as such is for the parties to resolve. We hope that a fair outcome for both parties will be reached soon," she said in a statement.
"The government, like many Victorians, welcomes confirmation by Carlton and United Breweries that there won't be any disruption to beer supplies during the upcoming AFL finals series."
Share
