Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Sad day as Diageo to close Kilmarnock and Glasgow plants




















Dear All

It is unfortunate when people lose their jobs, drinks giant Diageo, the makers of Johnnie Walker whisky is closing their plants in Kilmarnock and Glasgow.

This will result in the loss of 900 jobs in these local communities.

The great pity about this situation is that the company wasn’t in financial trouble.

As 900 jobs go Diageo will create 400 new jobs in a new coopering centre in Clackmannanshire but that will be little comfort for those in Glasgow and Kilmarnock.

A Diageo company statement said;

“Having examined the proposals presented to the company on 3rd September by Scottish Government Finance Secretary John Swinney, Diageo has indicated to Mr Swinney that the Taskforce proposals do not provide a sound basis on which Diageo could build and develop a sustainable business in Scotland, safeguarding 4000 jobs”.

The campaign to save the jobs was a cross party initiative with all the parties voicing their support for the workers.

SNP Minister, John Swinney said;

“I am deeply disappointed by the Diageo decision. I led a task force which worked effectively to put together the strongest arguments and substantive proposals to retain production and jobs at Port Dundas and Kilmarnock. “We could not have had more co-operation from the workforce, trade unions, the local authorities and parliamentarians to identify concrete, deliverable and cost effective proposals”.

The bottom line is at the end of the day if others reject your help there is little you can do about it.

This is a sad day for the people in Kilmarnock and Glasgow, hopefully better times will come again for these people.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

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