A SUMMER beer drought looms as delivery workers who have rejected a real-terms pay cut begin balloting for strike action next week.

About 1,000 drivers and warehouse staff rejected the “paltry” offer of just 1.4 per cent from XPO Logistics Drinks, the firm that delivers 40 per cent of Britain’s beer supplies.

Unite will start balloting members at 26 sites on Wednesday after the firm failed to increase its offer, which is well below the current RPI inflation rate of 3.9 per cent.

The ballot closes on August 9, raising the prospect of a shortage of beer in Britain’s pubs before the summer is out.

Unite national officer Joe Clarke said: “Our members have suffered great financial hardship during the pandemic, with some of them losing up to £10,000 through being furloughed and picking up no overtime.”

He said that staff had been working “flat out” to meet the demand for beer deliveries, and called on the company to engage in meaningful talks.

The union also condemned the company’s “ridiculous” decision to halt Covid-secure cleaning processes for drivers — a move it said was aimed only at cutting delivery times, despite the rise in infections.