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Drinks deliveries are set to be disrupted in the run up to Christmas after drivers at McPherson of Aberlour and Carntyne Tran voted to strike. Both employers have offered pay rises of 3.5% which the union Unite claims is below the rate of inflation and would see drivers having to take an effective pay cut.

About 200 staff, including drivers, forklift operators and cask-lifters, have  voted in favour of a strike at Carntyne Tran, which has contracts with Famous Grouse and Smirnoff. Pat Rafferty, senior regional industrial organiser at Unite, says 84% of staff are in favour of 24-hour strike action, which is due to take place on Wednesday 26 November.

"The 3.5% increase would take the drivers up to £8.70 an hour and the cask-handlers to £6.54 an hour." Unite and Carntyne Tran have agreed to an Acas meeting on Friday, and Rafferty hoped strike action could be avoided.

Tommy Campbell, Unite regional industrial officer, says 92 drivers at McPherson voted in favour of a 24-hour strike which will start at 5am on Wednesday 26 November. McPherson delivers Chivas whisky and has a contract with Diageo, which supplies drinks such as Baileys, Guinness and Moet champagne.

"This is a strike over fair pay and conditions. The rate for professional drivers is £8.48 an hour. Our aspirational claim is for £12 an hour. We recognise this would not happen in one go,  however the offer available is below inflation," adds Campbell. He also says that Unite has contacted Acas about the McPherson dispute and hoped to resolve the dispute before the strike was held.