AN announcement of job cuts means Scotch whisky needs the same Brexit protection as the car industry, union leaders claim.
GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith urged David Mundell to protect the multi-billion sector after Diageo announced more than 100 job losses at its bottling plants in Fife and Glasgow. The Unite union accused the firm of carrying out a “shocking betrayal” of Scots workers after staff were informed that 70 positions will be made redundant at the multinational’s facility in Leven, with 35 to go at Shieldhall.
The cuts are understood to be part of a review process which will see production of some white spirits move to the firm’s Santa Vittoria plant in Italy and others in the US. A company spokesman said the Scottish losses were “regrettable” but insisted it is committed to having a presence here.
However, the GMB, which raised alarm bells earlier this year about the potential impact of Brexit on the drinks manufacturing sector, is calling on the UK Government to introduce special measures to safeguard the industry with a Nissan-style deal.
Business Secretary Greg Clark revealed the car maker was convinced not to quit the UK by the promise of continued tariff-free trade without additional red-tape after the UK leaves the bloc.
Smith wrote to Mundell, saying: “This industry supports more than 40,000 jobs and has a remarkable multiplier effect where one whisky job supports nearly three more jobs in the wider economy. Whisky is worth about £5 billion to the UK economy and about £4bn comes from exports. Quite simply, we cannot do without this industry.”
Raising concerns about future export costs to key markets, including those in South America and Asia, he went on: “We greatly appreciate that Nissan is important to Sunderland, the north-east and the UK economy. It is dwarfed by the whisky sector in terms of value and jobs. Whatever guarantees were given to Nissan, we would like similar guarantees for our members in whisky.”
Diageo will meet with union representatives over the cuts later this month. Unite regional officer Pat McIlvogue said: “Workers in Scotland help make massive eye-watering profits for Diageo – for the six months to December last year it made an incredible £2.1bn.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel