DIAGEO CAMPAIGN PICKS UP SPEED

COFFEY RAISES CONCERN OVER HURLFORD WORKERS

Willie Coffey and Bob Doris have continued their campaign to keep the Diageo facilities in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas open.

Kilmarnock MSP Willie Coffey today met with trade union representatives at the Johnnie Walker plant and is writing to Diageo seeking a review of the timescales in which they plan to transfer workers from the Hurlford consolidation warehouse in Ayrshire to Malcolms, an external company.

The online petition launched by Mr Coffey has now reached over 4,000 signatures with at least 2,000 more collected locally and more people signing up by the minute.

Mr Coffey said;

"I met with the trade unions and employees this morning as I did last week when the news came through. Even though they are still in a state of shock, their commitment to a positive campaign to reverse this decision is impressive.

"This is not just about the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock.

"Of immediate concern is the fate of those workers at Hurlford that Diageo wish to transfer out of the company.

"I have real concerns about the way in which Diageo are looking to transfer these staff and the timescales they are using and will be raising these concerns with the management at Diageo."

"The support that has been received from the Scottish Government, the council and the local community and the willingness of all those involved to work together to make Diageo see sense is essential to turning this disastrous decision round.

"With the petition reaching new heights people across Ayrshire, Scotland and around the world are sending a clear message to Diageo that the Johnnie Walker plant must stay at Kilmarnock and stay open."

SNP MSP for Glasgow Bob Doris who will meet Diageo at Port Dundas this week said;

“I have been in touch with the Scottish Government today and will be meeting Diageo this week to put the case for Port Dundas to remain open and to ensure those working at Port Dundas receive proper treatment from the company.

"It is vital that in Glasgow as in Kilmarnock the battle to keep Diageo jobs is fought as a united front across all parties working with the trade unions, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the Local council to secure Glasgow and Scotland’s jobs.”