Planned strike action by workers at a major whisky supplied has been suspended.

Unite the union has confirmed staff at Chivas Brothers sites who had planned 24-hour work stoppages next week over a pay dispute have put the industrial action on hold.

Chivas staff had planned to down tools and conduct four consecutive full day shutdowns, running from Monday, December 11 to Thursday December 14.

But the union confirmed all walkouts had been stopped whilst the workforce considered a new pay offer.

Unite industrial officer Andy Brown, said: “Unite has been in intense negotiations with Chivas Brothers since we announced our rolling programme of strike action.

"Following the latest round of talks, we have agreed to put a new pay offer to our 500-strong Chivas Brothers membership for consideration. 

“Unite has decided to suspend all forthcoming industrial action until our membership has had the opportunity to vote on the merits of this new offer.”

The new deal on the table will now be put to the membership in a consultative ballot.

Previously, the membership had supported taking strike action by  91.2 per cent.

Unite is the main union at the company representing Chivas Brothers workers at the Kilmalid, Dalmuir, Beith, Strathclyde Grain and Strathisla distilleries, and Dumbuck warehouse facility among others. 

A Chivas Brothers spokesperson: “While the results of the official ballot are still pending, we are pleased that constructive talks have enabled us to re-engage with the unions on our original proposal, and reach a mutually agreeable position that avoids unnecessary strike action and limits the long-term impact of this dispute on our team.

"Our offer reflects our ongoing commitment to sharing our success throughout the company while recognising the normalising business and economic environment for the year ahead.

"We are a resilient business. Reaching this agreement means we can now continue to focus on our main business objective, which is the continued supply of our world-renowned whiskies to consumers all over the world.”