Three-year brewery deal delivers RPI-plus

More than 500 craft workers at drinks firm Scottish & Newcastle’s Royal Brewery in Manchester have secured a 4.3% pay rise in the first stage of a three-stage, 36-month pay agreement.

The increase, which applies to basic pay with flow-through to overtime payments only, applies from 3 March 2006.

In the second and third years of the agreement – which was negotiated by manufacturing union Amicus, the T&G general union and construction union UCATT – workers will receive increases of the retail prices index (RPI) plus 1%, with a minimum increase of 2.5% in each year.

The new rates for a 37-hour week range from £328.93 for grade TG2 up to £464.35 for accredited craft workers.