Wally Lewis has distanced himself from disgruntled XXXX brewery workers who will rally at a statue of the rugby league great next week as part of an ongoing industrial dispute.
The Milton brewery workers went on strike on Thursday for the fourth time in the past month amid tense negotiations with management over pay and contract labour hire.
About 35 workers marched out of the plant and stood outside the main gate, chanting and holding placards denouncing the company.
United Voice spokesman Damien Davie said members plan to walk off the job a fifth time next Thursday to rally at the Lewis statue at Suncorp Stadium ahead of the Brisbane Broncos' NRL clash with the Bulldogs.
But the former Test, Queensland and Broncos playmaker doesn't want to be connected to industrial action.
"It's got nothing to do with me," Lewis told AAP.
"If the meeting was being held on Queen Street, I don't think Her Majesty the Queen would be attached to the rally in anyway shape or form."
Mr Davie said the cornerstone of the dispute with Japanese brewery giant Lion was its plans to employ contractors to cover for full-time employees when on leave.
"We want everyone on the same rate of pay, on the same conditions ... not new workers brought in at 25 per cent less than the current workforce," Mr Davie said.
"When employees bring workers on cheaper wages it's only a matter of time before they get rid of the current workforce."
The union claimed the Broncos would not be "too pleased" about the way XXXX, a long-term sponsor, was treating its workers
A Broncos spokesman said the NRL club would not comment on the union's claims.
United Voice also claims Lion has tried to suppress information about the future of the inner-Brisbane site.
He said the union had been haggling with XXXX over a new enterprise bargaining agreement, which includes a three per cent pay increase, since June.
Other than resisting the push for more contract workers, Mr Davie said there were otherwise few complaints about pay and conditions for the 100 full-time brewery workers.
There has been mounting speculation about Lion selling off the Milton site, which is within a 100 metres of Suncorp Stadium.
Lion has repeatedly assured workers the plant would remain open.
"XXXX was born here, it's brewed here, and the brewery is not going anywhere. Our right to brew at Milton has even been enshrined in state law," brewery director Irene Bell said in a statement.
Australian Associated Press
