Chivas Brothers settles Kilmalid pay dispute

Chivas Brothers has resolved a pay row between workers at its Kilmalid and Paisley bottling sites in Scotland, therefore avoiding further industrial action.

Chivas Brothers has resolved a pay dispute between workers at its Paisley (pictured) and Kilmalid bottling plants

In a statement released today, the firm’s chairman and CEO, Laurent Lacassagne, said both sides have come to an agreement where workers’ salaries at both plants will be “harmonised” from next month.

Workers at Chivas Brothers’ Paisley and Kilmalid production sites have been locked in pay talks for months. On 7 August, more than 100 employees protested against an alleged £900 difference in pay between workers at Kilmalid and the nearby Paisley facility.

Further strike action had been lined up for earlier this week, but was called off after both sides agreed to further discussions in an effort to resolve the situation.

Lacassagne said: “Yesterday we met with union representatives at our Kilmalid site and are happy to confirm that we have reached an agreement whereby pay rates between Kilmalid and Paisley will be harmonised from September 2017.

“The decision follows a period of open and transparent negotiation over these past few weeks, and we’re happy that by working together we have achieved a successful resolution and that we now have a joint agreement on pay that will take us through to 2020.”

Trade union body Unite the Union has been contacted for comment.