Diageo shareholders met by protests at AGM

Published on Wednesday 14 October 2009 15:33

PROTESTORS campaigning against the closure of the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock have picketed parent company Diageo's shareholders.

Investors arriving at the drink giant's annual general meeting in London were given letters urging an alternative proposal, drawn up by union Unite, to be considered.

Unite says its proposal would save money and jobs.

The letters also stated the move was "akin to ripping out the heart of the Scottish whisky industry".

The drinks giant announced last month that it was pressing ahead with the closure of its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow – affecting 900 workers across the two sites.

Bill Anderson, 59, a shop steward from the Port Dundas distillery, said the job cuts were "corporate greed, big time".

Mr Anderson, who has worked for the firm for 20 years, said it was the next generation that would suffer.

"These are quality jobs and I think in the climate today the country can ill afford to lose a skilled workforce," he said.

Mr Anderson said that the cuts would be more understandable if the company was in trouble or "they have been through hard times", but he said the firm posted profits of 2 billion this year.

"I think it is an absolute disgrace to throw the workforce on the scrapheap."

The cuts will fall particularly hard on Kilmarnock and Mr Anderson said the move was "the destruction of a town".

Some shareholders took their letters with interest today, while others hurried past protesters.

The letter to shareholders read: "We know that Diageo's shareholders want a strong and thriving business. So do we, because strong businesses mean good jobs.

"But as shareholders, we think you also want one which can hold its head up high in the towns and the communities that has made you such good returns."

It went on to say that the firm had a loyal workforce which includes generations of the same family.