Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, has confirmed that its membership at Chivas Brothers across Scotland are being balloted on strike action which could hit festive supplies of the company’s premier drink brands.
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Unite, which is the main union at the company, represents hundreds of members at the company’s Kilmalid, Dalmuir, Beith, Strathclyde Grain and Strathisla distilleries, and Dumbuck warehouse facility among others.
Chivas employs around 1,500 workers in Scotland. Unite is warning that if the membership back strike action, then this will ‘hit hard’ supplies of the drinks giant’s premier brands over the festive season. The company produces Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, Aberlour, Ballantine's, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet.
The ballots opened on 30 October and closes on 20 November.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: “Strike action at Chivas Brothers is a step closer following the failure of the company to make our members a fair pay offer. Any strike action involving hundreds of Unite members will undoubtedly hit hard the supplies of the company’s premier whisky brands over the festive season.â€
“Let’s remember it is a company who can afford to pay far more as it made an eye-watering £168.5m in profit. Unite will back our Chivas Brothers members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.â€
Unite members previously rejected a 6.4 per cent pay offer by 97 per cent. Chivas Brothers have not made an improved pay offer after Unite warned on 17 October that it would have ‘no option’ but to ballot its members unless progress was made in pay negotiations.
Inflation stood at 11.3 per cent when the workers’ pay increase should have been implemented.
Chivas Brothers Limited made a profit after tax of £168.5 million in 2022. In August, the company further announced that its July 2022 – June 2023 full-year net sales were up by 17 per cent taking total sales to a ten-year high.
Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite's hundreds of members at Chivas Brothers deserve to taste some of the £168.5m profit. The company also recently announced a ten-year sales high. Yet, there is a pay offer on the table which represents a real terms pay cut, which is totally unacceptable.â€
“Chivas Brothers should be in no doubt that if our members support strike action it will leave management with a terrible festive hangover entirely of their own making.†■