A SECOND union has warned that its members who work for Chivas Brothers could strike in a row over pay.

Unite says its members working for the drinks giant in Beith and across Scotland have "emphatically rejected" a pay offer - and that industrial action is now on the cards.

Unite, which is the main union at the company, represents hundreds of members at the company’s plants across Scotland - including at the warehouses in Beith.

Unite is the the second union representing workers from Chivas Brothers to threaten strike action after members of GMB Scotland and sister unions overwhelmingly backed industrial action in consultative ballots yesterday.

Chivas employs around 1,500 workers in Scotland. The company produces Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, Ballantine's, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet.

Around 22 workers are employed at the local whisky maturation plant, known as the 'Beith Bonds'.  

Unite, like GMB, have said that unless a significantly improved pay offer is put on the table, they will have "no option" but to ballot their Chivas Brothers members on strike action.

The latest pay offer from the company of a 6.4 per cent increase was rejected by 97 per cent of the union's membership who work at the plants across Scotland.

The union says that with Chivas Brothers Limited making after tax profits of £168.5 million in 2022, the firm can afford to make a better offer to its staff.

They added that inflation stood at 11.3 per cent when the workers’ pay increase should have been implemented.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: “Chivas Brothers is getting dizzy on £168.5m in profits, which were achieved through the hard work of our members. Yet the company is refusing to make a fair pay offer.

“Chivas can well afford it, it is just choosing not to – and our members will not have it – Unite will back them all the way.”

Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite's hundreds of members at Chivas Brothers have emphatically rejected an unacceptable pay offer by 97 per cent. The offer on the table is in reality a significant real terms pay cut. Inflation was over 11 per cent when the pay rise was due.

“If there is no significant movement by Chivas Brothers then we will have no option but to ballot our members for strike action.”

A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said: “Chivas Brothers prides itself on being a longstanding Scottish employer, committed to its people and the communities it calls home.

"We have, and will continue to, reward our people competitively, while responsibly managing our business for the years ahead.

"We firmly believe that our offer strikes the right balance between ensuring our salaries remain highly competitive in the context of a normalising business environment, and enabling us to build a successful and sustainable future, for the long-term – as evidenced by our recent investments in distillery expansions and decarbonisation, site safety and our communities across Scotland."