GMB whisky workers have taken strike action over John Dewar & Sons’ efforts to “reduce terms and conditions by stealth.”

The company, bought by drinks giant Bacardi for £2 billion in 1998, has imposed changes to how holiday entitlement is calculated, converting each day into seven hours and 12 minutes.

Workers, concerned that it could see colleagues who work longer and those on night shifts effectively lose days of leave, overwhelmingly backed strike action in an effort to force a rethink from bosses.

As pickets gathered at Dewar’s plant on Glasgow’s London Road today, GMB whisky industry organiser Daniel Reid said: “This strike shows our members are absolutely united in their opposition to imposed changes threatening to penalise workers and reduce terms and conditions by stealth.

“Annual leave calculations must reflect the reality of our members’ working lives, not what is most convenient for a company spreadsheet. 

“Workers are being asked to risk losing holidays when there are other better and fairer ways forward. We would urge the company to swiftly resume constructive dialogue to find one.” 

Bacardi was contacted for comment.