Key Points
- Workers at John Dewar & Sons bottling plant in Glasgow, owned by Bacardi, have voted overwhelmingly for strike action over changes to annual leave calculation.
- The company switched holiday entitlement from days to hours, equating one day to seven hours and 12 minutes, affecting employees on longer shifts.
- GMB Scotland ballot showed 80% support for strikes (57% turnout) and 88% for action short of strikes, with first strike on 5 May 2026.
- Daniel Reid, GMB organiser, described the changes as unfair, imposed without agreement, and likely to result in lost holidays for workers.
- Workers engaged constructively but oppose the fixed hour equivalent for variable shift lengths.
- The plant is located on London Road, Glasgow.
- GMB calls for the company to halt changes and resume dialogue.
- John Dewar & Sons, established 1846, acquired by Bacardi in 1998 for nearly £2 billion.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 5, 2026 – Workers at the Bacardi-owned facility on London Road walked out today in the first strike over disputed holiday entitlement reforms, following a strong ballot endorsement from GMB Scotland.
Why Are Glasgow Whisky Workers Striking Today?
The industrial action stems from John Dewar & Sons’ unilateral decision to recalculate annual leave from days to hours, setting one day’s holiday at seven hours and 12 minutes. This affects bottling hall employees who often work extended shifts, potentially deducting more leave time than previously. As reported by GMB Scotland in their statement dated 28 April 2026,
“The dispute comes after the company decided holiday entitlement will now be calculated in hours instead of days with one day’s holiday being the equivalent of seven hours and 12 minutes”.
GMB organiser Daniel Reid highlighted the core grievance. As stated by Daniel Reid of GMB Scotland, “What the employer has proposed to this workforce is unacceptable to them, and that’s what the workers are out here showing today” . He further elaborated,
“At every stage, our members have engaged constructively with the company on this proposal and accepted the suggested change from days to hours. What is unacceptable and unfair is suggesting a day’s holiday equals a working day when our members work shifts when some days are longer than others”.
The ballot results underscore the workforce’s resolve. According to The Business Desk Scotland,
“A ballot of John Dewar & Sons staff revealed that 80% – with a turnout of 57% – backed strikes at the plant on London Road if there is no agreement, while 88% backed industrial action short of strikes”.
GMB Scotland notified management that strikes commence on 5 May, with further action planned absent resolution.
What Changes Did John Dewar & Sons Implement?
The shift to hourly leave calculation aims to standardise entitlement but disadvantages shift workers. Employees on back or night shifts exceeding seven hours and 12 minutes face reduced effective holiday time when taking days off. Daniel Reid of GMB Scotland noted,
“The changes were unfair, imposed without agreement and could mean workers losing holidays”.
Workers report constructive prior engagement, accepting the days-to-hours format but rejecting the fixed daily equivalent. As quoted by Daniel Reid in GMB Scotland’s release,
“Our members’ holiday entitlement must reflect the reality of their working lives not what works best on a company spreadsheet. Instead, our members risk losing holidays with no good reason or justification”.
The Business Desk Scotland reported similarly, detailing how longer shifts lead to disproportionate leave deductions.
GMB describes this as levelling down conditions for a skilled workforce. Reid added,
“This is a skilled and committed workforce but are being asked to accept the unacceptable”.
How Did the Ballot Unfold?
The formal ballot, conducted by GMB Scotland—one of the largest unions in the drinks sector—saw 80% of voting members (57% turnout) endorse strikes, with 88% supporting lesser actions like work-to-rule. GMB announced the outcome on 28 April 2026, scheduling the initial strike for Tuesday, 5 May.
This high support reflects broader dissatisfaction. As per The Business Desk,
“GMB Scotland told management the first day of strikes will take place on 5 May, with more industrial action planned unless a resolution can be found”.
The union positions the action as a last resort after failed talks.
What Is GMB Demanding?
GMB seeks reversal of the changes and renewed negotiations. Daniel Reid called on Bacardi-owned John Dewar & Sons to “halt the changes and engage with workers to find agreement”. He urged,
“The resounding backing for industrial action to halt these changes is no surprise and we would urge the company to resume constructive dialogue to find another way forward”.
The union emphasises fairness for shift patterns. Reid stated in The Spirits Business coverage, “the changes to holiday allowance were unfair, imposed without agreement and could mean workers losing holidays”.
Company Background
John Dewar & Sons, founded in 1846, produces blended whiskies including Dewar’s, sourced from distilleries at Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Royal Brackla, and Macduff. Bacardi acquired the company in 1998 for nearly £2 billion, integrating it into its global portfolio. The Glasgow plant on London Road handles bottling operations.
No comment from the company appears in available reports as of 5 May 2026; it has been contacted by media outlets.
Context in Scottish Whisky Industry
This dispute occurs amid tensions in Scotland’s whisky sector. GMB has balloted workers at other sites, such as Whyte & Mackay distilleries, over pay, with strikes planned for summer 2026. Past actions include Chivas Brothers walkouts and Inver House ballots. Broader issues involve shift work rights under UK law, where annual leave must align with contracts.
Background of the Development
The origins trace to John Dewar & Sons’ proposal to modernise leave tracking by converting days to hours, which workers initially accepted in principle. However, the fixed conversion rate of seven hours and 12 minutes—presumed as an average—ignores shift variability, leading to perceived losses for those on longer rotations. GMB Scotland engaged throughout, but imposition without consensus prompted the ballot in late April 2026. This reflects ongoing union efforts to protect conditions in manufacturing amid operational efficiencies. The plant’s role in Bacardi’s supply chain underscores its significance.
