Whyte & Mackay Distilleries Face Worker Strike
Workers at Whyte & Mackay distilleries in the Highlands and Moray are planning a series of strikes over pay. The GMB union is planning to strike at the distillery complex and warehouses. They will strike on 24 June, followed by 11 days in July and another two weeks in August.
According to Whyte & Mackay, the parties have agreed to meet this week to discuss the strike action planned. Locations that will be affected are Alness, Invergordon, and Tamnavoulin distilleries.
A recent report by the BBC claimed that the GMB union voted overwhelmingly to move forward with strike action.
“The GMB members were balloted following what the union said was a pay offer of between 6% and 7%. The union said support in favour of strike action was overwhelming, with 82% of members across the three distilleries backing industrial action in a ballot that saw a turnout of more than 80%.”
Whyte & Mackay Distilleries Workers Set to Walk Off
Lesley-Anne MacAskill, GMB Scotland organizer in the Highlands, said: “We told Whyte & Mackay today to expect a summer of strike action with our members united and determined their work is fairly recognized.
“Their support for action is overwhelming but unsurprising given the company’s refusal to properly reward them for the work that has helped generate record-breaking profits.”
Whyte & Mackay’s head of communication and corporate affairs, Kieran Healey-Ryder, said: “We have been informed of proposed strike action by GMB at three sites.
“However, negotiations continue and all sides agreed to meet this week, with the intention to explore if there is a way forward that may mitigate industrial action, or to confirm if we have indeed now exhausted collective bargaining.
“We have in the meantime prepared plans to mitigate the impact to stakeholder groups.”
Despite the strike schedule, Whyte & Mackay is still optimistic that an agreement could be reached soon. As negotiations continue, the GMB workers are equally expecting an olive branch from the whisky giant.