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by Drinks firm Diageo are to callously pull out of producing and bottling Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky in it's hometown of Kilmarnock.
The originator of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky was one John Walker of Kilmarnock who built up his whisky business from a small wine and grocery shop on Kilmarnock's high street to be one of the strongest and most well-known brands in the business. Now we see the parent company dismissing the history and the workforce of the highly successful Kilmarnock distillery and bottling plant so that they can make EVEN MORE money elsewhere.
The decision to close the Kilmarnock plant with the loss of 700 jobs will be the final nail in the coffin of the East Ayrshire town's population of 44,000 people.
It would not be so bad if this was a move that was necessitated by the company making a loss but this company made a £2BILLION profit last year. Now they want to make even more at the expense of the people of Kilmarnock.
It quite simply should not be allowed !
Last edited by papa_umau on Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:07 pm; edited 1 time in total
MORE corporate greed ?
papa_umau- Field Marshall
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Angie baby- Lieutenant
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The SNP government were backpedalling yesterday about this and they said that they were working to ensure that the company would not cease trading. In what form I don't know as it sure seems that Diageo are hell bent on offloading it.
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Angie baby.
papa_umau- Field Marshall
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Here is the latest on this from the online Scottish Sunday Mail:
MP calls for Diageo jobs to be saved with public money
By Mark Aitken
JOHNNIE WALKER drinks firm Diageo should be bailed out with more taxpayers' cash to save jobs, an MP said yesterday.
The company has been given £2.5million of public money over the past 10 years but now plan to axe 700 jobs at the Kilmarnock whisky plant and 200 at their Port Dundas distillery.
Kilmarnock MP Des Browne believes Diageo - who made £2billion last year - should get more if they safeguard jobs.
They got £1million in April 2000 to fund a £5million expansion at Kilmarnock after pledging to create 80 jobs and secure 400.
Browne said: "Spending £1million to keep these jobs was a good investment. If there was a possibility of keeping the Kilmarnock plant open, I would ask Alex Salmond to find that money.
"Diageo have three bottling plants and say they only need two, with Kilmarnock losing out.
"That would have happened 10 years ago if we hadn't persuaded them it was a profitable plant and the connections between Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock were crucial.
"We have to go back and persuade them of that again."
He claimed the First Minister should have been aware of the closure sooner.
The Labour MP said: "Ten years ago, we got to Diageo before they completed their review.
"This time the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise were taken by surprise. Alex Salmond has been sleeping on the job and now 900 jobs are at stake."
In January 2002 Diageo also got a £1.6million handout to upgrade their Leven plant.
A Diageo spokesman said: "We believe our proposals are right for the long-term sustainability of our business in Scotland."
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "It is astonishing that Des Browne should choose to make political points.
"This is no time to play party politics, especially from someone who only a few months ago was Secretary of State for Scotland."
More than 2000 people have signed a petition on the Kilmarnock FC website and at the town's Park Hotel calling on Diageo to reverse their closure plan.
LOCALS' VIEW
Emma Fewster, 19, said: "My uncle has worked there for 30 years and was devastated when he found out it was going to close.
It would be great if the government can save it."
George Dunn, 46, said: "I have some questions about using taxpayers' money when a company is making a profit but I think they should make sure the business stays here."
Lorraine Crawford, 23, said: "It is the last big employer in the area and everyone knows someone who works there. So many rely on it and I hope this is sorted out."
Mary Gale, 54, said: "It would be terrible if the plant shut, there is nothing else in Kilmarnock. It would be good use of taxpayers' money if a subsidy can keep the place open."
Well, do you think that more public money should be thrown at this problem ?
OR... do you think that there is maybe a better way to solve it ?
MP calls for Diageo jobs to be saved with public money
By Mark Aitken
JOHNNIE WALKER drinks firm Diageo should be bailed out with more taxpayers' cash to save jobs, an MP said yesterday.
The company has been given £2.5million of public money over the past 10 years but now plan to axe 700 jobs at the Kilmarnock whisky plant and 200 at their Port Dundas distillery.
Kilmarnock MP Des Browne believes Diageo - who made £2billion last year - should get more if they safeguard jobs.
They got £1million in April 2000 to fund a £5million expansion at Kilmarnock after pledging to create 80 jobs and secure 400.
Browne said: "Spending £1million to keep these jobs was a good investment. If there was a possibility of keeping the Kilmarnock plant open, I would ask Alex Salmond to find that money.
"Diageo have three bottling plants and say they only need two, with Kilmarnock losing out.
"That would have happened 10 years ago if we hadn't persuaded them it was a profitable plant and the connections between Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock were crucial.
"We have to go back and persuade them of that again."
He claimed the First Minister should have been aware of the closure sooner.
The Labour MP said: "Ten years ago, we got to Diageo before they completed their review.
"This time the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise were taken by surprise. Alex Salmond has been sleeping on the job and now 900 jobs are at stake."
In January 2002 Diageo also got a £1.6million handout to upgrade their Leven plant.
A Diageo spokesman said: "We believe our proposals are right for the long-term sustainability of our business in Scotland."
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "It is astonishing that Des Browne should choose to make political points.
"This is no time to play party politics, especially from someone who only a few months ago was Secretary of State for Scotland."
More than 2000 people have signed a petition on the Kilmarnock FC website and at the town's Park Hotel calling on Diageo to reverse their closure plan.
LOCALS' VIEW
Emma Fewster, 19, said: "My uncle has worked there for 30 years and was devastated when he found out it was going to close.
It would be great if the government can save it."
George Dunn, 46, said: "I have some questions about using taxpayers' money when a company is making a profit but I think they should make sure the business stays here."
Lorraine Crawford, 23, said: "It is the last big employer in the area and everyone knows someone who works there. So many rely on it and I hope this is sorted out."
Mary Gale, 54, said: "It would be terrible if the plant shut, there is nothing else in Kilmarnock. It would be good use of taxpayers' money if a subsidy can keep the place open."
Well, do you think that more public money should be thrown at this problem ?
OR... do you think that there is maybe a better way to solve it ?