WORKERS at Dumbarton-based whisky maker Chivas Brothers have voted massively to reject a pay offer- and union representatives have accused the company of corporate greed.

Members of Unite the union had been offered a 1.5 per cent increase backdated to July 2016, followed by three years of rises.

However, the union claim that the deal would barely keep pace with inflation and could see workers lose money in real terms.

In addition, the workers would also lose a holiday premium from June this year, say the union.

Last week the union announced that 94 per cent of members had rejected the offer in a consultative ballot.

Now talks are expected to resume this week in a bid to resolve the stand-off.

In November, the Reporter told how the Scotch whisky and premium gin makers announced its intention to invest in a new state-of-the-art £40m facility over the next three years at its Kilmalid site, in Dumbarton.

Plans include a bottling hall and office set for completion by the end of 2019, which will be newly designed and purpose built.

But the proposals will see the eventual closure of their Paisley site in two years time.

The transfer of activities from Paisley to Kilmalid is scheduled to start in 2018 and by the end of 2019 all Chivas Brothers employees based in Paisley would move over to work at the company’s Kilmalid site.

Unite regional officer Pat McIlvogue said: “Chivas Brothers say the closure of the Paisley plant will lead to future savings, but the workforce feel they are being forced to suffer to finance the investment, both though paltry pay increases and cuts to terms and conditions.

“This is sheer corporate greed. Chivas Brothers are making massive profits thanks to the hard work of our members - their last reported profits after tax were £318 million. Their profits per employee amount to over £227,000. Their highest-paid director gets nearly a million pounds.

“Scotland is facing an inequality crisis because workers are getting less and less, while rich executives and shareholders are getting more and more. We can’t allow that kind of unfair economy to continue.

“Fairness demands that our members receive a pay increase that properly reflects the work they do on behalf of the company. Unite is determined that they will get it.

“We will now seek further talks with the company and go back to our members with the outcome. They will then decide our future course of action.”

A Chivas Brothers Spokesperson said: “Discussions with trade unions are ongoing. We will meet again next week to continue these discussions. Our goal is to find a favourable solution for all parties.”