#beer strike

[4thelonghaul]

From April to November 1985, the workers at Newfoundland's major breweries went on strike. When American beer was imported to the island, most residents refused to drink it. Many just brewed their own beer. This is the story.

On April 1, 1985, workers at the Labatt Brewery went on strike, protesting the introduction of aluminum cans. The next day, O'Keefe and Molson workers went on strike. Workers worried that cans could lead to a centralized brewing process, which could cost jobs. The use of cans allowed for breweries to have greater ability to centralize and streamline their production because cans could be shipped longer distances than bottles. Strikers wore badges that said "Glass is class. Ban the can." For the next eight months, the strike dragged on as domestic beer supplies dwindled. Pubs and taverns were running low on their beer supplies by May and it was expected by the middle of the month they would be out of beer. In order to get alcohol into the province, the importation of American beer began. Brands such as Old Milwaukee and Lone Star started to appear in Newfoundland. Many Newfoundlanders called the imported beer "American froth". The American beer was so disliked that beer sales in the province dropped by 20 per cent during the first half of the strike. Some people simply began brewing their own beer in their homes rather than drink the American beer. The strike finally ended in November. By this point, beer sales were down 15%. There was also still a lot of American beer in the province. To sell it, it was discounted by as much as 95%. Even with that discount, barely any American beer sold in Newfoundland.

The strike was immortalized in poem by Newfoundland poet Ben J. Ploughman. It was also featured in an episode of Son of a Critch. It reads in part: They brought in 'Old Milwaukee' The best one of the lot, Another American import Another can of froth.

[timegents]

Freemasons Hotel, Norseman SCENE OF HECTIC NORSEMAN BEER BATTLE THE HOTEL AT NORSEMAN (WA), where after the conclusion of the 'Beer Strike' this week, there was a free fight.

[timegents]

Beer is not the best

Beer is not the best

LITHGOW unionists, who have declared a “beer strike,” will inscribe on a “dishonor roll” the names of men caught drinking beer. This beer strike habit is growing serious. There has been an epidemic of it lately.

Pretty soon the breweries will give up making beer and go in for ginger pop, orange crush, ice cream soda and kindred beverages. Still, I am all for the change. I would glow with…

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[timegents]

'B' Day brings celebrations

‘B’ Day brings celebrations

IT was branded “B-Day”, when beer was back “on” in all parts of NSW after almost a month’s drought, following the strike at Tooth’s Kent Brewery, which was settled in April 1946. A similar strike, which lasted for six weeks, had similar consequences, drying up hotels around the state. While some pubs had interstate beer shipped in, it often went dried-up quickly. When the strike ended, thirsty…

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[timegents]

Barrels of fun

‘Roll out the barrel’ — and the beer drought is on the run. Mr B. Kelly, of Braddon (pictured), cellarman at a city hotel, unloads draught beer yesterday.

The drought ended for some Canberra hotels and all clubs when the first consignment of beer from Sydney in over a fortnight arrived. A brewery workers’ strike caused the drought.

The delivery, which came by rail, was for hotels serving Reschs…

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[timegents]

Mt Isa beer strike

Mt Isa beer strike

BOIL OVER

Unable to Beer It

Mount ISA, Saturday,

The 12-months-old beer strike is over, but beer is still one shilling a pot, which means that for 12 dusty, dreary months Mount Isa has thirsted in vain. But to-day Mount Isa is intent on celebrating last Christmas in fitting manner, for the town still has vivid memory of a cheerless day nine months ago, when nothing but tepid water assuaged a…

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[thebullitimes]

Bulli's Beer Boycott

Bulli’s Beer Boycott

By MICK ROBERTS ©

Gone are the days – “I remember the time when a pint cost only 3d.,” says Jack Watchirs to his old friend of 40 years coal-mining, FRank Reeves, as they take their drink at the Bulli Family Hotel, in the centre of the beer strike zone. Photo: Queensland Times, January 11 1941.

THE barmaids must have looked on in sheer horror as thousands of thirsty beer drinkers began filling…

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[thebullitimes]

They'd been 'milked' enough

They’d been ‘milked’ enough

THE recent beer shortage in our town (Tocumwal) recalls 1940, when Broken Hill staged a beer strike during the hottest part of the year. Pubs were open. Beer was “on”. But there were no customers.

In the blazing heat (temperatures never below 107 deg.), gangs of roadmenders sat on the pavements, their backs against the walls of the pubs, drinking-through straws from cartons of pasteurised milk.

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