"Magnificent" response as 450,000 emails urge Diageo shareholders
not to throw Scotland's workers onto scrapheap
26th August 2009
A massive internet campaign to get Diageo to think again about
its plans to throw hundreds of Scottish workers on the scrapheap
has got off to a phenomenal start.
A staggering 450,000 emails from concerned members of the public
have already gone to Diageo's leading shareholders, urging them to
use their power to prevent the firm from betraying the people of
Scotland, the country so proudly associated with the drinks giant's
world-famous Johnnie Walker whisky.
By the time Diageo announces its yearly profits tomorrow
(Thursday, August 27th), it is expected that nearly 500,000 emails
will have been sent to shareholders in the world's biggest drinks
company as part of a campaign to target investors launched by the
workers' union Unite only days ago. Diageo is expected to announce
a profits jump above last year's £2,236 million surplus, calling
further into question the rationale for shedding jobs to "cut
costs".
Unite's digital campaign involves engaging supporters around the
globe, asking them for their help in lobbying 204 of Diageo's main
shareholders, including well-known names such as BP, UBS, British
Airways, Sun Life, Edinburgh city council and international
investors such as the Toronto Dominion Bank and the Abu Dhabi
Investment Authority. Supporters have been emailing the
shareholders in their thousands urging them not to abandon 185
years of success in Scotland.
According to Len McCluskey, Unite assistant general secretary,
the public response has been tremendous: "Support for these workers
across the UK and internationally is magnificent and continues to
grow. This response demonstrates the strength of feeling
about these plans. People in their droves are telling Diageo that
what it is doing, in seeking to throw loyal workers on to the
scrapheap to turn yet even more eye-watering profits, is simply
unacceptable.
"It is not too late for Diageo to change its mind. It
produces much-loved products and its association with Scotland has
done it proud, so we urge the Diageo board and its shareholders to
think again and reward the loyalty of its Scottish workforce by
abandoning its plans to betray them.
"This campaign shows that the public is on the side of these
workers and Diageo must make no mistake, Unite will continue to use
every weapon at our disposal- in the virtual world and on the shop
floor - to keep these men and women in work."
Unite's digital campaign is raising worldwide awareness of
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.
All of 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.
Later this week 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 at the Scottish parliament.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle, Unite
Head of Campaigns & Media, on 07976 832 861
Notes to Editors:
One typical letter to shareholders said:
"As you will know, Diageo is currently trying to implement a
disastrous strategy of closing the Johnnie Walker facility in its
traditional home in Kilmarnock, devastating the local community,
but also damaging the Johnnie Walker brand.
"They are also threatening a dangerous strategy of closing
the distillery & cooperage at Port Dundas in Glasgow, cutting
jobs at Shieldhall and contracting out the distribution facilities
from Hurlford and Elgin. To do this to a business that is perfectly
successful, even in the current economic climate, is not only a
total dereliction of corporate responsibility, but also a huge
gamble - with your money. Diageo's plans have been met with
opposition across Scotland - involving not just the trade unions
but communities, politicians from all political parties, the
Scottish media and the Scottish government.
"This opposition is now spreading internationally. Tens
of thousands of people have already signed petitions and
letters to Diageo CEO Paul Walsh calling on him to scrap his plans
- I now want you to take action as well. As a shareholder, you have
both the power and responsibility to stop this.
"This is a business that works - and has made a profit of £2
billion. Please demand that Diageo's management reconsiders this
reckless plan."
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