A union has confirmed its members at a whisky giant are being balloted on strike action.
Workers at French-owned Chivas Brothers start voting today, with the ballot closing on November 20.
The company refused to revise a pay offer of 6.4%, despite reporting its strongest financial year in a decade.
Unite, which is the main union at the company, is warning strike action will “hit hard” over the festive period if it is backed.
Chivas employs around 1,600 workers in Scotland at sites including Miltonduff Distillery, near Elgin, and Glentauchers Distillery, near Keith.
It also operates Strathisla Distillery in Keith – home to iconic brand Chivas Regal.
Chivas strike action is a ‘step closer’
Unite general-secretary Sharon Graham is hopeful the action will help Chivas workers get a fair pay offer.
She said: “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.
“Let’s remember, it is a company who can afford to pay far more. It made an eye-watering £168.5 million in profit.
“Unite will back our Chivas Brothers members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Unite said 97% of its members rejected the most recent offer and had seen no progress in negotiations.
Earlier this month 97% of GMB Scotland members backed strike action in a consultative ballot.
In August Chivas announced its net sales were up by 17%, making it the best financial year in a decade.
Unite industrial officer Andrew Brown said: “Unite’s hundreds of members at Chivas Brothers deserve to taste some of the £168.5m profit.
“The company also recently announced a 10-year sales high.
“Yet, there is a pay offer on the table which represents a real-terms pay cut, which is totally unacceptable.
“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.”
Chivas Brothers response
A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said: “We’re disappointed that employees covered by a bargaining agreement are being balloted for potential industrial action.
“However, we maintain our position and firm belief that our offer strikes the right balance between ensuring our salaries remain highly competitive in the context of a normalising business environment, while enabling us to build a successful and sustainable future for Chivas Brothers and its people, for the long term.
“As a business we have always sought to share our success with our teammates at every level across the organisation.
“We have, and will continue to, reward our people competitively, while responsibly managing our business for the years ahead.
“In real terms, if taken together with last year’s pay agreement, our current offer puts our proposed increase above the CPI and CPIH inflation averages seen over our last two financial years.
“Our recent investments in distillery expansions and decarbonisation, site safety and our communities across Scotland further demonstrate our dedication to our people and their futures.
“We sincerely hope that any industrial action can be avoided, but are confident that we can put in place the necessary measures to minimise the impact of any disruption on our business and our customers around the world.”
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