GMB Scotland - BourbonSphere

Bulleit Enters the American Single Malt Race

Diageo is staking a claim in the growing American Single Malt category with the new Bulleit American Single Malt. This whiskey’s release earlier this month… Read More

Diageo is staking a claim in the growing American Single Malt category with the new Bulleit American Single Malt. This whiskey’s release earlier this month has spawned a lot of questions, and Bulleit master blender Andrew Mackay joins us this week with some answers. In the news, Scotch Whisky exports plummeted in 2023, and major drinks companies are blaming economic headwinds in the U.S. for lagging sales. We’ll have the details, along with the story of a British distiller facing extradition to his native Poland after two decades on the run.

Episode 1044: February 18, 2024

Image courtesy of Diageo.

Never Say Die Bourbon: A Whiskey with a Back Story

The stories behind the whiskies we drink are almost as enjoyable as the whiskies, and the story behind Never Say Die Bourbon is an intriguing… Read More

The stories behind the whiskies we drink are almost as enjoyable as the whiskies, and the story behind Never Say Die Bourbon is an intriguing one. There’s a near-death experience, followed by success on horse racing’s grandest stage, and a side story linking it to the founding of The Beatles. Never Say Die co-founder Brian Luftman joins us to share that story on this week’s WhiskyCast. In the news, Chivas Brothers workers approve a new contract, Kentucky Bourbon distillers set more records, and the deadline to avoid European import tariffs on American whiskey is getting closer.

Photo courtesy Ninth House/Never Say Die Bourbon.

Chivas Brothers Workers Ratify New Contract

Members of Unite and GMB Scotland have voted overwhelmingly to accept a revised contract offer from Chivas Brothers, the Scotch Whisky unit of Pernod Ricard.… Read More

Members of Unite and GMB Scotland have voted overwhelmingly to accept a revised contract offer from Chivas Brothers, the Scotch Whisky unit of Pernod Ricard. The two-year contract covers about half of Chivas Brothers’ 1,500 employees around Scotland, and includes a 6.4% pay raise previously rejected by union members in October.

The revised offer makes the pay raise retroactive to July 1, while adding an additional pay hike in the second year of the contract tied to the inflation rate. In addition, workers will each receive a £500 one-time bonus payment.

In a statement announcing the results of the vote, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said “It was only down to the fact that our 500-strong membership at Chivas Brothers were prepared to fight and take strike action that the company came back to the negotiating table. The pay deal is another example of Unite delivering better jobs, pay and conditions for its members.”

A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said “We are pleased that following the latest ballot, employees covered by bargaining agreements have now voted to accept our revised proposal, which avoids unnecessary strike action. The new deal includes an acceptance of our original pay proposal and enhanced benefits, along with the security of a two-year agreement.”

Chivas Brothers brands include The Glenlivet, Aberlour, Ballantine’s, and Royal Salute.

Bespoke Whisky, Bespoke Tweed

Collaborations between whisky makers and design houses are becoming more common, and this week, we’ll look at a partnership where each side brought their own… Read More

Collaborations between whisky makers and design houses are becoming more common, and this week, we’ll look at a partnership where each side brought their own unique skills to form a successful collaboration. The Grant family’s House of Hazelwood has teamed up with London’s Huntsman Savile Row to create a 50-year-old Huntsman whisky, along with a unique House of Hazelwood tweed for Huntsman’s bespoke suits. We’ll talk with Huntsman creative director Campbell Carey and Jonathan Gibson of the House of Hazelwood on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, strikes against Chivas Brothers have been called off after the company proposed new contract terms, and we have more award winners announced this week.

Episode 1034: December 10, 2023

Strikes Against Chivas Brothers Postponed

The unions representing hundreds of Chivas Brothers distillery, bottling plant, and warehouse workers have called off their planned strikes for next week after the company… Read More

The unions representing hundreds of Chivas Brothers distillery, bottling plant, and warehouse workers have called off their planned strikes for next week after the company made a new pay offer. The move will allow GMB Scotland and Unite to poll their members on the new offer, and essentially ends any threat to holiday orders for Chivas Brothers.

Both unions had planned strikes for next week, with GMB Scotland planning a one-day strike at 21 Chivas Brothers facilities around Scotland and Unite planning three days of rolling strikes at other Chivas Brothers sites.

GMB Scotland spokesman David Hume told The Spirits Business “It is regrettable that it took the threat of a strike to prompt this revised offer but we have now suspended the planned industrial action to allow our members to vote on the terms.” Terms of the new offer were not disclosed, but it is believed to be higher than the 6.4% pay hike rejected overwhelmingly by members of both unions in October.

A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said “While the results of the official ballot are still pending, we are pleased that constructive talks have enabled us to re-engage with the unions on our original proposal, and reach a mutually agreeable position that avoids unnecessary strike action and limits the long-term impact of this dispute on our team. Our offer reflects our ongoing commitment to sharing our success throughout the company, while recognising the normalising business and economic environment for the year ahead.”

Is the Luxury Whisky Investment Market Softening?

Whisky has become more attractive as an investment asset in recent years, but a new report indicates the value of luxury whiskies has declined over… Read More

Whisky has become more attractive as an investment asset in recent years, but a new report indicates the value of luxury whiskies has declined over the past year. We’ll talk with the report’s author, Duncan McFadzean of Scotland’s Noble & Company, on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, lots of hardware was handed out at this week’s awards ceremonies in Scotland and Ireland, and we’ll have the details. Chivas Brothers faces strikes by its union workers next week, and there’s less than a month left before American whiskies face European import tariffs again.

Episode 1033: December 3, 2023

Strike Dates Set Targeting Chivas Brothers

The two labor unions representing hundreds of Chivas Brothers distillery and bottling plant workers have given notice of their plans to strike between December 11… Read More

The two labor unions representing hundreds of Chivas Brothers distillery and bottling plant workers have given notice of their plans to strike between December 11 and 14 following a breakdown in contract talks. Unite and GMB Scotland are also banning their members from working overtime and short-notice shifts starting on December 11.

GMB Scotland plans a one-day strike December 12 targeting The Glenlivet distillery, along with Aberlour, Strathisla, and other distilleries and bottling plants. Unite plans a series of rolling strikes targeting various Chivas Brothers facilities during the three-day period, with a goal of disrupting whisky shipments during the holiday season.

Both unions rejected a proposed 6.4% wage hike after the Pernod Ricard division reported a 10-year high in sales during the 2023 fiscal year, with a 17% year-on-year gain. Unite spokesman Andrew Brown said in a statement “Unite has repeatedly warned Chivas Brothers that strike action is inevitable unless the current pay offer was improved. It has not listened to our members and now industrial action is a matter of weeks away. The company should be in no doubt that our members are determined to get their fair share of the hundreds of millions in profit Chivas Brothers is coining in.”

A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said the company remains committed to its pay offer, and hopes for “constructive dialogue” to resolve the labor dispute. The spokesperson said any strike will not affect year-end orders, since most have already been shipped globally.

Northern Ireland’s Distilling Resurgence

There was a time when Belfast and the surrounding counties led the world in whisky production. Several factors led to that tradition all but disappearing… Read More

There was a time when Belfast and the surrounding counties led the world in whisky production. Several factors led to that tradition all but disappearing over the last century, but now, the six counties of Northern Ireland are bringing new life to their distilling heritage. We’ll visit several of the country’s distilleries on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Chivas Brothers faces holiday strikes by distillery and bottling plant workers, while UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has given the country’s distillers a break by freezing excise taxes.

Episode 1032: November 26, 2023

Chivas Brothers Faces Holiday Strikes

Workers at two unions representing Chivas Brothers workers have voted in favor of going on strike during the holiday season. 91 percent of Unite members… Read More

Workers at two unions representing Chivas Brothers workers have voted in favor of going on strike during the holiday season. 91 percent of Unite members voted in favor of the strike, while 89 percent of GMB Scotland members voted in favor.

The unions represent around 800 workers at Chivas Brothers distilleries and bottling plants around Scotland, and rejected the company’s offer of a 6.4% wage increase in October.

In a statement, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said “strike action at Chivas Brothers is inevitable unless the current pay offer is improved. Chivas made an eye-watering profit last year, and it can easily afford to offer our members a significantly better offer. Unite will back our Chivas Brothers members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

The Pernod Ricard Scotch Whisky unit faces two weeks’ notice of strikes by both unions, which are expected to time their actions around the critical holiday period in December. The unions claim their strikes could disrupt bottling halls and shipments to shops, hotels, and bars during the holidays.

In a comment to just-drinks.com, a Chivas Brothers spokesperson said end-of-year orders have already shipped, meaning strikes would have little impact on the festive season.

Chivas Brothers Faces Strike Votes

Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers and its two trade unions are locked in a dispute over pay increases. Both Unite and GMB Scotland are threatening strike… Read More

Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers and its two trade unions are locked in a dispute over pay increases. Both Unite and GMB Scotland are threatening strike votes unless the number-two producer of Scotch whisky increases its offer of a 6.4% pay increase.

The strike could affect The Glenlivet and the company’s 11 other distilleries in Scotland, as well as the main production site in Kilmalid and warehousing operations around central Scotland.

GMB Scotland spokesman David Hume said in a statement, “our members are being asked to accept a pay rise that is below the rate of inflation while reading how the owners are celebrating some of the highest sales ever recorded. Sales of the whisky made in Scotland are booming around the world but the workers making it are told they must accept an effective pay cut in the middle of a cost of living crisis?”

97% of Unite members rejected the offer, according to the union.

In a statement, a Chivas Brothers spokesperson said the offer was competitive and fair.

“We have, and will continue to, reward our people competitively, while responsibly managing our business for the long years ahead. We firmly believe that our offer strikes the right balance, ensuring our salaries remain highly competitive in the context of a normalising business environment and enabling us to build a successful and sustainable future, for the long term – as evidenced by our recent investments in distillery expansions and decarbonisation, site safety and our communities across Scotland.”

The two sides came close to a strike in 2021 before the company raised its pay offer and the unions agreed to a new two-year contract. That contract expired in June, and negotiations have failed to produce a new agreement.