MSPs join Diageo workers to take the pledge to fight for Scottish
jobs
2nd September 2009
Unite Photo opportunity
from 12:30pm
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Outside the Scottish parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh
From 1pm MSPs will join workers in the Garden Lobby to sign the
Save Diageo Jobs pledge. For media information on the day contact
Peter Welsh (Unite) on 0781 0157 931
MSPs from all parties are being invited to sign an oversized
pledge card ahead of a major ministerial statement on Diageo's
proposed restructuring in Scotland, which would slash 900 jobs and
is being fiercely opposed by Unite the union. The sign up
marks the start of a day when the Scottish parliament itself will
put Diageo's restructuring plans under the spotlight.
The MSPs will join workers from across Diageo's Scottish sites
this Wednesday (September 2nd) who will be lobbying the Scottish
parliament for support to save jobs, safeguard the future of all
Diageo's Scottish sites, stop the contracting out of delivery
workers on inferior terms and prevent closure of the historic
Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock.
At 2pm on Wednesday a ministerial statement on the plans is
expected, while at 5pm the Scottish parliament will also hold a
member's debate, prompted by Willie Coffey MSP, on Diageo's
plans.
Leading the lobby on behalf of the workers, Jackson Cullinane,
Unite's deputy Scottish secretary, said: "We've had people the
length and breadth of the country contact us, outraged by Diageo's
betrayal of Scotland.
"It is a mark of how deeply these restructuring plans have
shaken Scotland that our legislators are to put them under the
spotlight. We will be saying clearly to MSPs that these
proposals do not stand up to scrutiny - and we know that they won't
be fooled by them either.
"Diageo pocketed in over £2 billion in pure profit this year,
and the same again last year, so these changes are in no way about
saving a company on its knees. This is about corporate greed,
plain and simple, and we must not stand by while this brings ruin
to Scotland's communities."
Unite representatives and Diageo workers will be available to
speak to the media.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle (London)
on 07976 832 861 or Peter Welsh (Glasgow) on 0781 0157 931
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