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.”