Strikes at Major Scotch Whisky Producer Chivas Brothers to Have a ‘Major Impact’ During Holiday Season

Employees at Chivas Brothers have finalized strike dates. (Photo: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

On Wednesday, Just Drinks reported that the Unite workers’ union has selected and confirmed strike dates for its members to stop work at Chivas Brothers in December. The 24-hour strikes will start on Dec. 11 and go through Dec. 14.

On Nov. 21, 90% of workers voted to go on strike after pay talks between the union and Pernod Ricard, Chivas Brothers’ parent company, collapsed.

Members of the GMB trade union in Scotland expressed an interest in going on strike after they rejected a 6.4% pay hike, citing reasons of skyrocketing inflation and costs of living concerns in October.

“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,” David Hume, an organizer for GMB Scotland, said in an interview with the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald. “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?”

Chivas Brothers reached out to Whiskey Raiders and said it is “committed to its people and the communities it calls home.” The brand claimed it believed its offer was a fair one and was essential to the brand building a “successful and sustainable future.”

In September, the Chivas Brothers pledged $75 million toward carbon neutrality. One month later, the brand allocated $76 million to build a carbon-neutral distillery in Islay.

“Chivas Brothers has made eye-watering profits and it can easily afford our members a significantly better offer. Its failure to make a fair offer is a classic example of a company putting profits over people,” Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said, according to Just Drinks.

In addition to the strikes set to occur in December, the unions plan on banning overtime and short-notice shifts as well.

Andrew Brown, Unite’s industrial officer claimed the strike “will have a major impact on the company’s ability to supply premier brands over the festive season.”

The scotch arm of Pernod Ricard sees it a bit differently. In a statement, the brand said the following:

“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, much of which has already shipped globally.”

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