New Collective Agreement In Plzeňský Prazdroj

The new collective agreement will define the employee-employer relationship for one financial year and is valid until March 31st, 2010. Both parties agreed to focus the remuneration-increasing resources towards benefits especially. All employees will receive contributions towards health care, relaxation or medicine and food supplements in the form of monetary vouchers valued at 2500 Kč. Around 350 employees who perform hazardous work will continue to receive vouchers for healthcare goods and services valued at 1500 Kč a year. A traditionally popular benefit, beer for employees, is also managed by a voucher. It is valued at 2500 Kč and will be valid for one year.

The value of vouchers for employees’ cultural and sporting activities will be increased significantly from the present 2000 Kč to 4700 Kč. Prazdroj also introduces new employee benefits, such as a 50 percent discount in employee shops and tickets for excursions to breweries valued at 600 Kč.
 
The new collective agreement keeps in place bonuses for work anniversaries, which serve as a mark of respect for loyal employees and are also a motivational factor. Those that have worked for the company for five years are going to keep the one-time bonus of 5000 Kč, and longtime employees can receive up to 25,000 Kč, including the non-monetary benefits.

Managers still have the option to acknowledge exceptional job performance with non-monetary bonuses such as recreational vouchers, weekend resorts or tickets to cultural and sporting events.

Comments on the collective agreement by employee and employer representatives:

Bohumír Matas, Plzeňský Prazdroj labor union chairman:

“The collective bargaining was strongly influenced by two things: The employer‘s offer of a small salary increase and the implemented review of the organizational structure. The agreement was reached thanks to the employer’s promise to include expected pay raises including employer’s deductions at source to the benefits increase. Very important for us were the negotiated changes in individual provisions above the requirements stipulated by the Labor Code that address legal relations between the employer and employee representatives.”

Corporate affairs and human resources director Ivan Balogh:

“Naturally, this year’s collective bargaining was affected by the changed situation of the beer market, which also touches our company. We proved that the company management and its employers and union members can find common ground and reach a solution even in difficult conditions. The negotiations were done in a pragmatic and rational way, and I want to thank the union for that. I believe that under the given circumstances, the signed collective agreement provides motivation for our employees and it will strengthen their loyalty to Plzeňský Prazdroj.”

Notes for editors:

• With sales totaling 10.7 million hectoliters in 2008 and with exports to more than 50 countries worldwide, Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., is the leading beer producer in the region and the largest exporter of Czech beer.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj has around 2500 employees in Plzeň, Radegast (Nošovice) and Velké Popovice breweries and in 13 commercial distribution centers across the entire Czech Republic.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. is a member of SABMiller plc global group, one of the largest brewing companies worldwide with brewing interests or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents.
• The group’s brands also include major brands such as Miller Genuine Draft, Grolsch, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and many other successful regional brands.

Contact:
Jiří Mareček
Manager external communication
Phone: +420 724 617 219

Plzeň