Chivas Brothers Workers Set Strike Dates
Hundreds of workers at the Chivas Brothers whisky facilities throughout Scotland will move into strike action early this month. two workers’ unions have coordinated the staff walkout between December 11 and 14, 2023. The strike comes amidst a staff rejection of 97% of a salary increase offered by the distillery.
After rejecting a pay increase, over 500 Unite and GMB members will walk out for 24 hours at various Chivas Brothers facilities across Scotland between December 11 and 14. The action will involve workers from Kilmalid, Dalmuir, Beith, Strathclyde Grain, and Strathisla distilleries, as well as Dumbuck warehouses, among others.
Chivas Brothers Workers’ Strike Locations
There are 21 sites in Scotland where GMB members will walk out. These include the Kilmalid bottling hall in Dumbarton, the Strathclyde Grain Distillery, and the Glenlivet Distillery. Other facilities belonging to the distillery that will be affected are located in Speyside, Clydebank, and Ayrshire.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Chivas Brothers has made eye-watering profits and it can easily afford to offer our members a significantly better offer.
“Its failure to make a fair offer is a classic example of a company putting profits before people.
“Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and always prioritizes the jobs, pay, and conditions of its members.
“The workers at Chivas will receive the union’s complete support.”
David Hume, GMB Scotland organizer, said: “In a cost-of-living crisis, our members are unwilling to accept what is effectively a pay cut when this company is making huge profits and reporting record sales.
A Chivas Brothers spokesperson: “Although we have now been served notice of industrial action, we remain committed to our pay proposal, which – when combined with last year’s increase – would see salaries increase above the CPI and CPIH inflation average over the last two financial years.
“While we remain open to constructive dialogue to see this matter reach a fair and reasonable resolution, we have already put in place the necessary measures to ensure our continued business operations, minimizing any impact on our customers around the world. Considering the proximity to the festive season, and our business resilience plans, we are confident the planned action will have no impact on end-of-year orders, most of which have already shipped globally.”
