Diageo workers appeal to CEO: tell us to our faces why
we're losing our jobs
12 October 2009
Anxious and angry workers from the Johnnie Walker plant in
Kilmarnock have today (Monday) written to their boss, CEO Paul
Walsh, imploring him to meet with them by the end of this month so
that he can tell the workforce personally why he is to close their
historic plant with the loss of hundreds of jobs.
With Diageo the last major employer in the Scottish town, and
with many within the same family set to lose their jobs, the
workers want Paul Walsh to explain to them directly by the end of
October why he is so committed to plans that will bring certain
ruin to the local community.
The workers, all members of Unite, are devastated that Diageo
has rejected out of hand an alternative business plan proposed by
the trade unions, which would have saved a massive £80 million for
the company and led to significant efficiencies on the sites
earmarked for closure. Diageo's refusal to engage in meaningful
dialogue with the unions over any alternative solution means they
are set to force through their plans which will see 900 jobs
slashed, the historic Kilmarnock "home of Johnnie Walker" plant
shut, the closure of Port Dundas Distillery and Cooperage and
further redundancies at Glasgow’s Shieldhall packaging plant
Determined to make Diageo think again and reverse the closure
plans, the angry workers have now written to their employer, Paul
Walsh, who awards himself a salary in excess of £3.5 million every
year, saying:
"We were very disappointed and angry to learn that the company
is not prepared to spend any more time examining the trade union
alternative business plan and has rejected it as not providing the
levels of savings and cost cutting that Diageo is demanding from
the Scottish plants. That plan proposed significant savings by
reducing the investment required by a massive £80 million, as well
as substantial annual savings through reductions in the workforce,
improved efficiencies and the offer of changed working practices on
all sites. Why is this not enough for you?
"You have said on numerous occasions that the workforce are a
most valued asset for Diageo, yet it does not feel like this at all
when you are prepared to consign over 900 of us to the dole queue.
Many of us have worked for the company for over 30, and in some
cases, 40 years with our families before us being part of the
tradition that built the Johnnie Walker brand. You made over £2
billion profit this year, yet because you don’t think that’s
enough, we will find ourselves out of work with little chance of
finding alternative employment. And what hope is there for our
children and future generations when the most important employer in
Kilmarnock is deserting us?
"We would like to invite you to come to Kilmarnock before the
end of October when the consultation process ends so you can meet
us and account for the actions and decisions of Diageo. We also
want to present you with the petition that has been signed by all
your workers and the whole community within Kilmarnock, in the hope
that you will change your mind. If we cannot persuade you to think
again, at the very least you will be able to explain to us face to
face why you believe there is no alternative."
The letter has been sent to CEO Paul Walsh ahead of Diageo's AGM
in London later this week (Wednesday, October 14th), when the
company is set to reveal another year of staggering profits. A
delegation of workers from all sites are set to lobby shareholders
as they go into the meeting, asking for their support and urging
them to use their influence to get Diageo's management to think
again.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976
832 861.
Email to a friend
Want to share this story? These sites allow you to tag and share links across the internet enabling you to share these links with friends and people with similar interests. You can also access your links from any computer you happen to be using.
