DIAGEO BOSSES CONDEMNED FOR CLOSURE STANCE

Diageo bosses have been condemned for their insistence on closing the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.

SNP MSP for Kilmarnock Willie Coffey, reacting to a series of interviews by Diageo bosses where they remained committed to closing the Kilmarnock plant said;

“Diageo bosses have offered no comfort to workers at Johnnie Walker.

“Diageo say they are in listening mode but they are clearly not in hearing mode.

“It is an insult to all those working at the plant to talk about a museum instead of a working whisky plant.

“Around 10,000 people are now supporting our campaign – these people are not just Johnnie Walker workers they are Johnnie Walker drinkers and customers around the world.

"The way for Diageo to show loyalty to staff is to keep the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas distillery working not cut the jobs of 900 workers who have continually supported the company.

“That they will listen to the Scottish Enterprise proposal is welcome but it increasingly sounds like Diageo’s minds are made up. We need a united front across not just political parties, but all Johnnie Walker drinkers to show Diageo the error of their ways.

"Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock have been together since 1820. If the loyalty of the workforce and the town means anything to Diageo they will halt the closure and end these ridiculous plans to walk away from Kilmarnock.”