Strike Averted: Chivas Brothers Offers Workers a Better Deal Amid ‘Ongoing Cost-Of-Living Crisis’
Chivas Brothers negotiated a deal with union members, avoiding a strike. (Photo: Chivas Brothers)
On Thursday, The Press and Journal reported that Chivas Brothers offered members of Unite the Union a revised pay deal, providing employees a 6.4% pay raise starting July 1, an additional one-off payment of £500 ($635) and wage increases to keep pace with inflation in the U.K. starting in July.
“The pay deal is another example of Unite delivering better jobs, pay and conditions for its members,” Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said, according to The Press and Journal.
The deal is considered “a significant improvement,” according to Andy Brown, industrial officer for Unite the Union.
Strike talks at Chivas Brothers, the parent company behind brands like Ballantine’s, Royal Salute and Glenlivet, began in October after Chivas Brothers denied union members the 6.4% pay raise.
Ninety-seven percent of union members agreed to vote on a strike action if Chivas Brothers would not meet their demands.
The strike appeared imminent in November, and unions aimed to implement labor stoppages around mid-December. Chivas expressed that it remained committed to seeing things through on the negotiation front and proposed a new deal on Dec. 5.
“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,” a spokeswoman for Chivas Brothers said, according to The Press and Journal. “The new deal includes an acceptance of our original pay proposal and enhanced benefits, along with a two-year agreement. We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with all our employees to deliver our main business objective, which is the continued supply of our world-renowned whiskies to consumers all over the world.”
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