Diageo Profits Leap Proves no Case for Destroying Scottish Jobs

LONDON - Reacting to the release today by drinks giant Diageo of its yearly results, which reveal a leap in operating profits of 10 percent to GBP2,443 billion, Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: “Even in a global recession, Diageo can pull in billions of pounds in pure profit. Surely now Diageo’s claims that it must cut Scottish jobs to reduce costs can be seen once and for all for what they are - about short-term greed, not long-term need.

“For 185 years, generations of Scotland’s workers have delivered for this company. Their hard work has made this company extraordinarily wealthy and its products loved around the world.

“They deserve better than to be thrown on the scrapheap to slate Diageo’s thirst for yet ever more profits.

“CEO Paul Walsh may claim to be ‘comfortable’ with his plans to cut jobs but there is a way forward, where efficiencies can be delivered for the company but without devastating Scottish communities by putting people out of work, and we urge Diageo to work with us now on this more socially responsible approach.”

Unite is leading the fight to halt Diageo’s plans to close its historic Johnnie Walker site in Kilmarnock, close its distillery and cooperage at Port Dundas, slash jobs at its bottling plant in Glasgow and transfer its drivers at the Hurlford and Elgin plants to a third party on poorer terms. Unite says these plans suggest the company is not serious about a long term future for its other Scottish workers, including those at its Shieldhall and Leven plants.

Today, Unite will be taking its campaign to halt the restructuring plans to Gleneagles where the Johnnie Walker Classic Golf Tournament gets underway. Next Wednesday (September 2nd), a specially-convened debate on Diageo’s restructuring plans will be held in the Scottish Parliament.

Source: Unite the Union

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