Balblair Distillery workers in ballot for strike action as Inver House slammed by GMB over pay offer
A WHISKY producer with a distillery in Easter Ross faces the prospect of strike action after a pay offer was rejected.
Workers at Inver House Distillers, which operates the Balblair Distillery near Edderton, are voting on strike action after pay talks broke down.
GMB Scotland, one of the biggest unions in the whisky industry, is balloting workers as it says managers refuse to reopen negotiations after a three per cent pay offer was rejected.
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The Lanarkshire-based company, with distilleries across the Highlands, also refused to engage with conciliation service Acas, according to the union, as workers seek a 4 per cent deal.
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, including Balblair, Balmemach, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney and Speyburn, as well as a maturation warehouse at its headquarters in Moffat, Airdrie, Lanarkshire.
