LOS ANGELES (KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO)  -- A big layoff is brewing in Ireland. Guinness Beer plans to pink-slip more than half its factory workers in the next five years. It'll close two breweries and shift production to a high-tech plant thatwon't need as many people to pour the hops into the vats. 

A spokesman says the move is necessary to compete with lower-cost breweries in Eastern Europe, Russia and China.