Diageo profits strengthen case against job cuts - Carmichael

Commenting on Diageo’s announcement of a £2bn profit, Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, Alistair Carmichael said:

“This news will be hard to take for the workers whose jobs are hanging in the balance."

“It is difficult to see why a business making profits in the billions considers itself so hard-pressed that it has to lay off workers who have shown years of loyalty.

“This news only strengthens the case for Diageo to think again before it axes jobs at its historic Kilmarnock site. It is the dedication of Diageo’s employees that have allowed it to become so profitable - sacking them now would be an unforgivable way to reward them.”

EFFORTS FOCUSSED ON DIAGEO JOBS

Two meetings today put the emphasis firmly on alternative proposals to save Diageo jobs.

SNP MSP Bob Doris convened a meeting of Scottish Enterprise along with GMB and Unite representatives and Glasgow City Council to begin discussions on alternative proposals to retain Diageo operations as the Port Dundas site.

SNP MSP for Kilmarnock Willie Coffey will tonight join high level discussions to be led by Finance Secretary John Swinney as all parties focus on alternative business proposals.

Following this morning's Glasgow meeting held at Partick Thistle FC near Port Dundas SNP MSP Bob Doris who chaired the meeting said;

“This meeting gave those representing Port Dundas the chance to hear from Scottish Enterprise what steps they will be taking over the coming weeks and to begin discussions on an alternative proposal.

"Trade unions, politicians and the local authorities in both Glasgow and East Ayrshire are united in fighting Diageo's job cuts across Scotland and I was pleased to see union representatives from Kilmarnock join their Glasgow colleagues this morning.

"This morning was a key step in bringing together the fight to secure jobs at Port Dundas and identifying key issues in this campaign. Tonight's meeting in Edinburgh chaired by John Swinney is another step toward an alternative proposal that will halt Diageo's determination to close these plants.

SNP MSP Willie Coffey, who will attend tonight's summit meeting with Finance Secretary John Swinney said;

"Tonight's meeting demonstrates the unified campaign against Diageo's disastrous plans and I welcome the absolute commitment of everyone involved to the workforce in Kilmarnock and in Glasgow.

"Diageo have said they will listen and despite their apparent determination to close the sites we must take full advantage of that opportunity.

"The efforts of trade unions and politicians are being matched by an outpouring of public support in both Glasgow and Kilmarnock with local communities and international drinkers of Johnnie Walker registering their support.

"There should be no doubt that the workers and campaigners at Johnnie Walker will not let this plant close without a fight and that while Diageo might be big they will never be bigger than Johnnie Walker and its connection to Kilmarnock."

COFFEY - DIAGEO CAMPAIGN MUST STAY FOCUSSED

DIAGEO REFUSE TO DELAY JOB TRANSFER

SNP MSP for Kilmarnock Willie Coffey has called for the campaign to save Diageo jobs to stay focussed as Diageo refused a request to delay the transfer of 64 workers from the plant at Hurlford to a different company based in Linwood– the first phase of closing Diageo’s sites.

In an email to Mr Coffey Diageo stated; “Our proposal is to transfer the business in two tranches - the first in or around September 2009, and the rest by the end of January 2010 and we will cease operating at the site by 31 January 2010” adding that as workers are being transferred “this decision is not subject to consultation with Diageo”

In further action SNP MSP for Glasgow Bob Doris will continue the joint campaign to save Diageo jobs in Scotland when he meets management at the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow later today.

Kilmarnock MSP Willie Coffey said;

“There are 64 jobs due to be moved from Diageo in Hurlford to an outside company in Linwood in September – the first phase of Diageo’s plans to shut down their Ayrshire sites.

“Diageo’s behaviour to their workforce is increasingly questionable. It is outrageous that while discussions could still be taking place on alternative proposals workers will be being marched out of the door.

“Diageo claims this is a transfer so it does not have to deal with redundancy – but many of these workers may not be able to take up the jobs in Linwood.

“Despite the wider campaign and alternative proposals coming forward it seems Diageo are not willing to wait and will be transferring these jobs in September no matter what.

“I have asked for a delay and a real consultation with these workers but Diageo are currently refusing to make that happen.”

Commenting on the campaign to save the jobs in Diageo Mr Coffey said it must not be distracted by petty politics.

“This campaign is about two things rallying the public in support of the jobs at Johnnie Walker and Port Dundas and producing an alternative proposal to show Diageo that the plant and distillery are not only viable but an integral part of their business.

“Over the last week politicians of all parties have joined employees, trade unions and local communities to speak out against the closure – working together toward an alternative proposal that the First Minister will put forward to Diageo.

“I am deeply disappointed to see others trying to break that coalition and will not let it happen.

SNP Trade Union Group’s Malcolm Balfour added;

“To maximise its chance of success, the joint campaign must remain firmly united, so it was disappointing that individuals yesterday indulged in petty, political mischief making with a misinformed and baseless attack on the First Minister.

“The unions, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, East Ayrshire and Glasgow Councils and politicians from all the parties must work on a consensual and co-ordinated basis.

“The only way to persuade Diageo to reverse their closure plans and save the workforce is to put politics aside, work together and present Diageo with a viable alternative business plan.”

SNP RAISE CLYDE CLOSURE CONCERNS IN COMMONS

The SNP has demanded an urgent Commons statement on the future of thousands of shipbuilding jobs after a leaked memo revealed apparent plans to close two yards.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP used a Point of Order to call on the UK Government to come clean over reports that the Ministry of Defence is set to finance redundancies.

Mr Robertson said:

“The future of thousands of shipyard jobs have been thrown into doubt and Gordon Brown himself must end this intolerable uncertainty right now.

“These revelations, and the way they have been disclosed, are a slap in the face for a workforce who deserve much better treatment.

“It would be grossly irresponsible to throw away the shipbuilding expertise which has been built up over generations on the Clyde, and the UK government must come clean on any plans that threaten the future of these yards.

“Scottish yards have a first class record of delivery, committed workforce and excellent facilities and Labour cannot be allowed to sell it down the river.”