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Trinidad and Tobago: A labor dispute at one of the Caribbean's largest breweries has caused a shortage of a beloved beer, leaving bar owners struggling to satisfy thirsty customers who aren't happy with higher-priced foreign brews, Associated Press posted on June 16. Union and company officials from Caribbean Development Company Ltd. and Carib Glass went to court on June 15 to argue whether the lockout of 875 workers is legal, but a judge granted the company's request to postpone the hearing until Thursday.

Since the beer company locked out workers on May 24, production has been as little as 40 percent at times, said Allan Herrera, spokesman for Caribbean Development Company Ltd. and Carib Glass. CDC brews Carib and Stag beer - which is exported from Trinidad to countries in the Caribbean, North America and Europe - while Carib Glass makes the bottles.

The lockout, stemming from disputes over pay and other issues, has affected both local sales and exports, although Herrera declined to reveal the numbers of exports. The lockout has led drinkers to wonder why they can't find a Stag, a beer usually found in every corner store and restaurant in this two-island Caribbean nation.

Meanwhile, Carib's distributor on the island of St. Vincent, Bottlers St. Vincent Ltd., hasn't been able to get nearly enough Carib beer for Carnival celebrations on July 5 and 6. The company usually orders up to 5,000 cases for the month leading up to Carnival, but has only been able to get 1,000 so far, managing director Ken Gonsalves said. "It's happening at the wrong time," he said. "It will be a loss to us."

In Antigua, islanders have been waiting for an order of 500 cases of Carib for two weeks, said Cleon Benjamin, a warehouse supervisor at A.S. Bryden and Sons distributor.

The islands of St. Kitts and Grenada brew Carib at their own breweries and have not been affected by the lockout so far. Distributors in Miami, Barbados and other places could not immediately say whether imports of Stag and Carib had been affected.

Wide differences remain between the workers and the company over wages, pension changes and at least a dozen other issues - including blood-alcohol level tests. The company wants to be able to do random blood tests on workers to determine if they have drinking problems. The union objects, saying someone who drinks on their day off could fail.

"The individual may have had a party on Sunday and comes to work on Monday, and for whatever reason you choose to test that individual," said Carl St. Rose, with the National Union of Government and Federated Workers, which represents the workers.

On wages, the union is asking for a 17 percent increase, while the company has proposed 12 percent. Pay ranges from Trinidadian $3,000 (US$500) to TT$7,000 (US$1,200) per month.

In its court challenge, the union says the company did not give workers reasons why the lockout occurred or what they had to do to return to the job.

Relying on about 15 to 20 replacement workers, non-unionized employees and management, brewery operators have focused on producing their lighter Carib instead of Stag.

At Hereford's, a local watering hole in Trinidad's capital of Port-au-Prince, owner Maurice Jones said he usually sells as many as 30 cases of Stag each week. Since the lockout, he's been lucky to get 10 cases per week.

"I have to take this," said customer William Warner, 73, settling for the Danish beer Carlsberg, which also is brewed in Trinidad though it costs Trinidad $2 (about US$.35) more. Disappointed, he complained, "I can't get my Stag."


18 June, 2004