Cromdale whisky workers voting on strike action after pay talks breakdown
Whisky workers including those at Balmenach Distillery by Cromdale are voting on strike action after the breakdown of pay talks.
GMB Scotland is balloting staff at Inver House Distillers as managers refuse to reopen negotiations after a three per cent pay offer was rejected.
The Lanarkshire-based company, with distilleries across the Highlands, also refused to engage with conciliation service Acas as workers seek a four per cent deal.
The union said a consultative ballot showed 94 per cent support for a vote on industrial action if talks broke down.
David Hume, GMB Scotland organiser in the whisky industry, said: “Our members accepted below inflation rises during the cost of living crisis and any pay offer must reflect that.
“With inflation rising again and household bills still high, our members are clear that a below inflation offer will not be accepted.
“In addition to pay, longstanding collective bargaining arrangements must be modernised to better reflect our membership among distillery, warehouse and security workers.
“The company has refused to seriously engage with either issue leaving our members with little choice but to vote on industrial action.”
The three-week ballot of GMB members on possible industrial action, including strikes, at Inver House opens today.
Inver House is owned by InterBev, a subsidiary of ThaiBev, one of the biggest drinks companies in south east Asia which recorded profits of £600m last year.
It has five distilleries across the Highlands the others being Balblair, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney and Speyburn, as well as a maturation warehouse at its headquarters in Airdrie.
A spokeswoman for Inver House said: “We are disappointed that GMB Scotland has decided to ballot its members who represent a small percentage of our Scottish workforce.
“All our employees have been given an annual pay rise that is in line with inflation, as we have consistently done in previous years, alongside an annual bonus paid in December.
“It is therefore a misrepresentation to state that this year’s figure is below inflation.
“Our business is committed to being a fair and supportive employer, and we take great pride in the strength of our teams and workplace communities across Scotland.”
