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.
Christopher Brookmyre
Jennifer Aboot and Mark Achbar’s documentary The Corporation claimed that any human being behaving in a manner comparable to a modern multi-national would be branded a sociopath: aggressive, manipulating, utterly lacking empathy, antisocial, unable to accept responsibility for its actions, and incapable of remorse. Diageo’s conduct over Johnnie Walker, one of its signature products and upon whose heritage the company very profitably trades, sadly ticks all of the above boxes. Diageo need to be reminded that not everything in this world comes down to – or is justified by – the bottom line.
Graeme Obree, Cyclist and Ayrshire resident
“It’s vital for the people of Kilmarnock that such a huge employer stays here, and also, people don’t understand the loyalty to the brand. Anywhere you go in the world it says Johnnie Walker, Kilmarnock – that is the brand and we need to keep it here.”
WILLIAM MCILVANNEY ADDS SUPPORT TO KEEP JOHNNIE WALKER IN KILMARNOCK CAMPAIGN
“It was the Kilmarnock Edition of Robert Burns that introduced his poems to the world – poems which had at their core a profound belief in the dignity and importance of the ordinary worker.
“It is bitterly ironic that what is probably the second most famous product of Kilmarnock, Johnnie Walker whisky, is now being used to subvert that belief, to demonstrate utter contempt for the ordinary workers who, over generations, have made the product the respected world brand it is today.
“It’s enough to make Robert Burns turn in his grave at a thousand revs a minute.
“Diageo, the current owners of Johnnie Walker, can have no motivation for closing down the plant in Kilmarnock but greed. Having made over £2 billion profits last year, they are trying to devise ways of making more, regardless of the devastating impact their soulless pursuit of money will have on the lives of those who made their product so profitable in the first place. There can be no response to such contempt for people but total opposition.”
The Trashcan Sinatras lend their full support to the Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock campaign.
Kilmarnock is part of the blend, it is where Mr. Walker began his trade, the famous ’striding man’ logo is a portrait of a Kilmarnock native, the iconic ’slanted’ label is a Kilmarnock invention, Kilmarnock and Johnnie Walker are as inseparable as Dublin and Guinness… Can you imagine the public outcry if the Dublin Guinness factory were to close due to the present owners’ business decisions?
Both Guinness and Johnnie Walker are owned by Diageo at the moment. It is their ’shift’…. It is their ‘watch’ . Both of these brands’ popularity and world wide success were established well before the present owners took the reins and given the almost guaranteed continuation of this international popularity due to the consistent quality and iconic status of both Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky, surely it would be a massive PR mistake and long term sales disaster for Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock’s historic and internationally renowned association to be consigned to history?
As any whisky drinker will tell you, the reputation of a whisky is all based on longevity, quality, a sense of place, and a customers trust in the lack of change… the guarantee that where ever you go the quality and associations are the same… Can’t you hear the disappointed voices already !!… In every language imaginable… “It’s not the same as it was” … “when they moved out of Kilmarnock it went downhill”
Take the name Kilmarnock from the Johnny Walker bottle and you take the heart from the brand, you take a huge risk with the fierce loyalties of the whisky drinkers, you take the romance from the glass, you take the Kilmarnock of the imagination that lives in every sip.. from Tokyo to Hollywood ….from Leonard Cohen’s pen to Frank Sinatra’s backstage poker games Kilmarnock has journeyed..Take the name Kilmarnock from the bottle and the iconic brands reputation built up over decades would begin to fade and thus the long term future of the brand would be sacrificed at the altar of short term decision making.
It is your shift Diageo …do the right thing.
John Douglas and the band. 19 July 2009
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Support from the Proclaimers
“Charlie and Craig send their full support for the campaign to save the Diageo Plant workers jobs. Unfortunately we are in Canada touring just now so will not be able to make it to the campaign march on 26 July. Best wishes to all on the campaign.”
Support from Kilmarnock Band Biffy Clyro
“We support the workers and their families trying to save their jobs. This closure would be devastating for the local community in area of already high unemployment. The loss of wages from the factory will have a ripple effect as Johnnie Walker is one of the last major employers in the whole area. We are currently in LA recording our new album so unfortunately wont be able to attend the rally to show our support however we are keeping up to date with the campaign online at www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com.
![outsider_eddi3[1]](http://www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/outsider_eddi311.gif "outsider_eddi3[1]")
“MONEY OVER LOYALTY, MONEY OVER THE WELLBEING OF FAMILIES, MONEY RULES OVER, EVERY UNKIND, UNFEELING, CRUEL, MOVE DIAGEO ARE MAKING HERE.
HOW DARE YOU TAKE THOSE JOBS AWAY FROM FAMILIES THAT HAVE HELPED JOHNNY WALKER BECOME THE BRAND NAME THAT IT IS????
HOW CAN YOU SLEEP??”
EDDI READER. SINGER, SONGWRITER
Great to see this magnificent local campaign going from strength to strength.
Big business is suffering one of its intermittent crises. As usual, it wants ordinary people to pay for it with their jobs and livelihoods. When I was a boy growing up in Kilmarnock, it was a lively town full of hard-working people. If this campaign fails, it will turn into another ghost town.
Your magnificent fight to say no to the suits from the multinationals is becoming an inspiration world-wide.
Iain McDowall, crime writer
Elaine C. Smith – Excerpt from Sunday Mail Article 12 July 2009
“So Diageo bigwigs think politicians in Scotland should “back off” as they campaign to save hundreds of jobs threatened by the cost-cutting multinational?
How dare they.
They are laying waste to communities as families reel under the threat of the sack and our elected representatives are meant to just tug the forelock. Dream on.
It is absolutely right that Scotland’s MPs and MSPs are angry about the decision of the company to end operations in Kilmarnock with the loss of 900 jobs.
They are voicing the anger of Scots and for big business to start squealing is ridiculous.
Business will never have the interests of you and me at its heart – wonderful though it may be for Scotland’s wealth.
Our politicians, flawed as they may be, are all we have to fight for those at the sharp end. I for one don’t want them to back off in their fight for Scots workers.
I want them to step it up.”
Show your support. Sign the online petition here <http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-johnnie-walkers-link-to-kilmarnock/sign.html> or read the online campaign site <http://www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com/?p=305> .
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