Copyright grampianonline
Engineers working across historic Speyside distilleries are set to strike over concerns they are being forced to work more days for less money. Seven days of strikes will start on Monday (November 10) as engineers working across Edrington’s distilleries in Moray, The Macallan, Glenrothes and Parkmore, also plan another 22 days throughout November, December and January. The strike was unanimously agreed by all 12 of the engineers represented by the GMB Scotland union. Engineers, the union said, had seen their working week increased from four days to five without agreement and in spite of their concerns. The GMB said staff had worked a four-day week for the last two years at the suggestion of the company, but new rotas required them to work around 40 extra days each year. A spokesperson also claimed that the new arrangement had doubled engineers’ on-call time, cut their allowances by around £5000 annually, and made them subject to extra expenses like childcare and travel. The new rotas came into force in August, after Edrington started a consultation in January. It is understood that the move to a five-day week was meant to bring the working schedule of engineers in line with other parts of the business, and to ensure on-call coverage at distilleries. A spokesperson for Edrington said the firm was “deeply disappointed” about the unanimous vote for strike action, arguing it had made “significant changes and compromises” to its original plans. Lesley-Anne MacAskill, GMB Scotland organiser, said: “Our members’ are absolutely united in their determination to protect the rota from needless and hugely disruptive change. “The unanimous support for action is only one indication of how badly managers have handled this issue and the determination of workers to find a fairer way forward. “Their willingness to mount sustained industrial action over a period of months is another. “Our members have been ordered to work more days for less money and endure wide-ranging disruption to their lives for no good reason or practical purpose. “If managers are surprised by the overwhelming willingness to take strike action, they shouldn’t be.” After the initial seven-day strike next week, management have been told to expect another four days of action in November, ten in December and eight in January. Ms MacAskill said workers had tried repeatedly to find a way forward but warned that only urgent and productive negotiations could now avert disruptive industrial action. She said: “Our members have engaged with negotiations but every one of their constructive suggestions for alternative rotas were summarily rejected. “This is a small team of skilled workers critical to the successful operation of these distilleries and their expert voice should be heard and heeded.” However, Edrington denied they had rejected suggestions from the engineers, arguing it had made a number of compromises to its plans. It is understood that the firm have claimed that on-call engineers work fewer unsociable hours under the new rota and can work a total of three four-day weeks out of every every 11-week block. “We are deeply disappointed that the GMB ballot has chosen to take industrial action,” the Edrington spokesperson said. “We have been in constant dialogue with the 12 engineers involved since January and we have already made significant changes and compromises to our original proposal. “We have a responsibility to balance the requirements of our distillery operations in a way that is fair to all our people and the compromises on working hours for our engineering team are now appropriately aligned with the other teams and the needs of the business.” Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.
