Series of strikes could hit whisky producer

GMB members at Whyte & Mackay distilleries in the Highlands and Moray are planning a series of strikes over pay.

The union said the workers would walk out on 24 June, followed by 11 days of strikes in July and a further two weeks in August.

The action is planned for distilleries in Alness, Invergordon and Tamnavoulin.

Whyte & Mackay said negotiations were continuing and all sides had agreed to meet this week.

The GMB members were balloted following what the union said was a pay offer of between 6% and 7%.

The union said support in favour of strike action was overwhelming, with 82% of members across the three distilleries backing industrial action in a ballot that saw a turnout of more than 80%.

Lesley-Anne MacAskill, GMB Scotland organiser in the Highlands, said: “We told Whyte & Mackay today to expect a summer of strike action with our members united and determined their work is fairly recognised.

“Their support for action is overwhelming but unsurprising given the company’s refusal to properly reward them for the work that has helped generate record-breaking profits.”

Whyte & Mackay’s head of communication and corporate affairs, Kieran Healey-Ryder, said: "We have been informed of proposed strike action by GMB at three sites.

"However, negotiations continue and all sides agreed to meet this week, with the intention to explore if there is a way forward that may mitigate industrial action, or to confirm if we have indeed now exhausted collective bargaining.

"We have in the meantime prepared plans to mitigate the impact to stake holder groups."