Clydebank whisky staff will join their colleagues across Scotland when they take strike action in the coming weeks.

Workers at Dalmuir’s Chivas Brothers site will down tools on Thursday, December 14 as part of a series of 24-hour stoppages across various facilities in Scotland.

An overtime ban and short notice shifts ban will also be in effect from December 11.

The move comes after union Unite balloted its members over proposed industrial action in a dispute over what they call a ‘real terms pay cut.’

It claims 2022 company accounts showed Chivas had made £168.5m profit.

Now, after 91.2 per cent of those balloted voted for the walkout, Unite warned festive whisky supplied could be “hit hard” during the four-day action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Chivas Brothers has made eye-watering profits and it can easily afford to offer our members a significantly better offer.  Its failure to make a fair offer is a classic example of a company putting profits before people.

“Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and always prioritises the jobs, pay, and conditions of its members. The workers at Chivas will receive the union’s complete support.”

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

And the whisky maker rejected claims the Christmas season could be impacted by the strikes, explaining they have already shipped most orders.

A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said: “Although we have now been served notice of industrial action, we remain committed to our pay proposal, which – when combined with last year’s increase – would see salaries increase above the CPI and CPIH inflation average over the last two financial years.

“While we remain open to constructive dialogue to see this matter reach a fair and reasonable resolution, we have already put in place the necessary measures to ensure our continued business operations, minimising any impact to our customers around the world.

"Considering the proximity to the festive season, and our business resilience plans, we are confident the planned action will have no impact on end-of-year orders, most of which have already shipped globally.”

Unite – which looks after over 500 of the staff - is the main union at the company, representing workers at the Kilmalid, Dalmuir, Beith, Strathclyde Grain and Strathisla distilleries, and Dumbuck warehouse facility among others.

Unite members previously rejected a 6.4 per cent pay offer by 97 per cent and warned Chivas Brother on October 17 that it would have ‘no option’ but to ballot its members on strike action unless progress was made in pay negotiations.