Whisky workers strike over holiday threat

Whisky workers went on strike at a major bottling plant today after accusing bosses of risking their holidays.

GMB Scotland, representing workers at John Dewar & Sons, in Glasgow, said members walked out from midnight after management refused to pause changes to how annual leave is calculated.

Pickets were outside the plant, in London Road, from the start of the 24-hour strike called after company imposed a new system for leave.

GMB Scotland said the changes are unfair and will mean some workers potentially losing days of leave depending on their shift patterns. More industrial action is planned if there is no resolution.

The dispute comes after the company decided holiday entitlement will now be calculated in hours instead of days with one day's holiday now being the equivalent of seven hours and 12 minutes.

Daniel Reid, GMB Scotland organiser in the whisky industry, said workers could now lose days from their annual leave entitlement if they take time off when due to work longer back or night shifts.

He urged the company, owned by multinational Bacardi, to pause the changes, resume negotiations, and address the concerns of workers after a formal ballot of members revealed 90 per cent support for industrial action.

Reid said: “This strike shows our members are absolutely united in their opposition to an imposed changes threatening to penalise workers and reduce terms and conditions by stealth.

“We have been and remain willing to negotiate a fairer way forward but annual leave calculations must reflect the reality of our members’ working lives not what is most convenient for a company spreadsheet.

“Workers are being asked to risk losing holidays when there are other better and fairer ways forward. We would urge the company to swiftly resume constructive dialogue to find one.”

The union, one of the biggest in the drinks sector, said 80% of the workers voting in the formal ballot, with a turnout of 57%, backed strikes at the plant if there is no agreement, while 88% backed industrial action short of strikes.

John Dewar & Sons, formed in 1846, was bought by multinational Bacardi for almost £2 billion in 1998 and is a key brand for the multinational drinks giant including Dewars, a best-selling whisky, and distilleries at Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Royal Brackla, and Macduff.

ENDS