It was with utter dismay that we heard of Diageo’s decision this morning. On 3 September, day 65 of the 90-day consultation, the Cabinet Secretary presented our alternative business proposals to Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock to Diageo. Today, on day 71, Diageo have confirmed their decision. Did they really give our proposals due consideration in only four working days?
We do recognise that a decision has been taken, but we believe that the decision taken is a wrong one. Our supporters obviously agree, as our campaign has demonstrated, with more than 100,000 people signing our petition, support flooding in from around the globe, 15,000 people have written personally to Paul Walsh and almost half a million people have written to Diageo shareholders.
Johnnie Walker is synonymous with Kilmarnock and the brand has been associated with the town since 1820. It is recognised in every corner of the world as the leading brand name for Scotch whisky, and generations of local families have shown tremendous commitment and loyalty to the company over the past two hundred years. Now they will witness the very heart and soul being ripped out of their community.
Today we find ourselves in a position where we must move forward and try to secure the best possible outcome for Johnnie Walker employees and the town of Kilmarnock.
The Cabinet Secretary has convened a meeting of the Task Force on Monday and we will present a package of proposals designed to support the growth of new jobs in Kilmarnock. We want to secure Scottish Government support for the town and our attention will now turn to developing an action plan which will seek to create 700 sustainable jobs for Kilmarnock.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “I welcome the continued commitment from Cabinet Secretary John Swinney, and as he himself stated, he will work unstintingly with partners to mitigate the serious impacts and assist the people and communities affected by Diageo’s decision-making.”
Councillor Maureen McKay, Leader of Main Labour Opposition said: “It is hard to describe the true extent of our feelings today. However, we remain resolute as we turn our attention to securing a positive future for the town, by applying the same energy, enthusiasm and strength as witnessed throughout the campaign.”
Councillor Tom Cook, Leader of Conservative Opposition said: “We are truly disappointed at today’s outcome, which will undoubtedly have a devastating effect of the town and the wider local community. We must now look towards the future as we prepare to work with the Scottish Government on plans to help secure 700 sustainable jobs for the town.”
We are proud of what this campaign has achieved. The facts speak for themselves.
Throughout the 71 days of this campaign we gained the support of the entire local community; local businesses, residents, workers, trades union representatives, Kilmarnock Football Club and politicians from all parties have united to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock. People have given their all in support of this campaign and we could have asked for nothing more.
We do recognise that a decision has been taken, but we believe that the decision taken is a wrong one. Our supporters obviously agree, as our campaign has demonstrated, with more than 100,000 people signing our petition, support flooding in from around the globe, 15,000 people have written personally to Paul Walsh and almost half a million people have written to Diageo shareholders.
Johnnie Walker is synonymous with Kilmarnock and the brand has been associated with the town since 1820. It is recognised in every corner of the world as the leading brand name for Scotch whisky, and generations of local families have shown tremendous commitment and loyalty to the company over the past two hundred years. Now they will witness the very heart and soul being ripped out of their community.
Today we find ourselves in a position where we must move forward and try to secure the best possible outcome for Johnnie Walker employees and the town of Kilmarnock.
The Cabinet Secretary has convened a meeting of the Task Force on Monday and we will present a package of proposals designed to support the growth of new jobs in Kilmarnock. We want to secure Scottish Government support for the town and our attention will now turn to developing an action plan which will seek to create 700 sustainable jobs for Kilmarnock.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “I welcome the continued commitment from Cabinet Secretary John Swinney, and as he himself stated, he will work unstintingly with partners to mitigate the serious impacts and assist the people and communities affected by Diageo’s decision-making.”
Councillor Maureen McKay, Leader of Main Labour Opposition said: “It is hard to describe the true extent of our feelings today. However, we remain resolute as we turn our attention to securing a positive future for the town, by applying the same energy, enthusiasm and strength as witnessed throughout the campaign.”
Councillor Tom Cook, Leader of Conservative Opposition said: “We are truly disappointed at today’s outcome, which will undoubtedly have a devastating effect of the town and the wider local community. We must now look towards the future as we prepare to work with the Scottish Government on plans to help secure 700 sustainable jobs for the town.”
We are proud of what this campaign has achieved. The facts speak for themselves.
Throughout the 71 days of this campaign we gained the support of the entire local community; local businesses, residents, workers, trades union representatives, Kilmarnock Football Club and politicians from all parties have united to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock. People have given their all in support of this campaign and we could have asked for nothing more.
Latest News
DIAGEO ANNOUNCEMENT
4:54 pm on September 9, 2009It was with utter dismay that we heard of Diageo’s decision this morning. On 3 September, day 65 of the 90-day consultation, the Cabinet Secretary presented our alternative business proposals to Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock to Diageo. Today, on day 71, Diageo have confirmed their decision. Did they really give our proposals [...]
Breaking news. Diageo REJECT revised business case.
11:57 am on September 9, 2009Breaking News -Diageo reject the revised business plan. From the BBC: A business case was submitted to the firm last week for keeping its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow. But Diageo said the proposals did not “provide a sound basis” to “build and develop a sustainable business”. More from the BBC webiste. SEE [...]
JOHNNIE GOES TO HOLYROOD
3:06 pm on September 8, 2009The iconic Striding Man attended the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh last Wednesday, as part of the ongoing campaign against Diageo’s proposed closures in Kilmarnock. Accompanied by Johnnie Walker workers and East Ayrshire Council’s cross-party working group, Johnnie Walker arrived at Holyrood for the Diageo debate. Also in the gallery to see Kilmarnock MSP Willie Coffey battle [...]
In an interview in Scotland on Sunday, Bryan Donaghey, managing director of Diageo in Scotland, admits that whisky bottling jobs could go overseas!
“The simple answer is yes, this bottling could move overseas. We produce Smirnoff all over the world so the argument is we can just disgorge it in different places.”
Full story:
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business/Diageo–warns-of-further.5579572.jp
Asides
- From the Sunday Mail, 16th August: Trainspotting star plugs Johnnie Walker as they move to axe jobs - (Aug 16 2009 Norman Silvester) ANGRY campaigners are urging Scots film star Robert Carlyle to join the fight to save 700 Johnnie Walker jobs in Kilmarnock ... after he starred in a £300,000 advert for the whisky. Drinks giants Diageo have released the lavish promo about the Ayrshire roots of the famous brand as they threaten to close their bottling plant in the town. The six-minute video features Carlyle walking through the hills while explaining the story of the drink's founder..... Full story here #
- The last surviving relative of Johnnie Walker is interviewed by the Record and pleads with Diageo to show loyalty to the workers. She says her great grandfather would be turning in his grave. Full Story #
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8168982.stm #
- A letter from today's Herald newspaper (July 30th): As one of the 20,000 who marched through the streets of Kilmarnock on Sunday to protest against Diageo's disgraceful plan to close the Johnnie Walker plant, I would like to take issue with the comments made by Iain McMillan (The Herald, July 28). I marched on Sunday to support friends who work at Johnnie Walker. I marched because I can see the devastating economic consequences that this plan would have for a town and an area that has never properly recovered from previous recessions. I marched to help show the world that my hometown has a huge amount of pride in being the birthplace of Johnnie Walker whisky - a worldwide brand leader - and that we won't take the loss of that without making a stand..... continue reading the full letter here #
- THOUSANDS of people have taken to the streets of a Scottish town to protest against the planned closure of a whisky plant. The 20,000-strong crowd included politicians, workers and their families and members of the town football team. They marched through Kilmarnock in western Scotland where Johnnie Walker started blending whisky in the 1820s. full story here #
Recent Tweets
Breaking News -Diageo reject the revised business plan.
From the BBC:
A business case was submitted to the firm last week for keeping its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
But Diageo said the proposals did not “provide a sound basis” to “build and develop a sustainable business”.
More from the BBC webiste.
SEE [...]
September 9, 2009
By Campaign Admin
September 7, 2009
By JW Campaign Office
September 6, 2009
By JW Campaign Office
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