Diageo workers back Scotland on 'Saltire Saturday'
4th September 2009
Diageo workers striving to save jobs and protect conditions at
Diageo plants in Scotland will be appealing to football fans at
tomorrow's game against Macedonia to lend their voices to the
fight.
Heeding the appeal from the Scottish Football Association for
supporters to bring their saltires to the game tomorrow, the Diageo
workers will be at Hampden to hand out replica Scotland flags
bearing the message "Scotland Supports Diageo Workers”.
David Tennant, Unite shop steward at Diageo's Port Dundas
Distillery and Cooperage, which is facing closure should the
company force through its restructuring plans, is one of the
workers attending tomorrow's game.
"The game against Macedonia is a crunch one and we know the fans
will be anxious but their help to stop Scotland's workers being
thrown on the scrapheap will be invaluable" he said.
"The support we've had to date from people across Scotland, and
around the world, has been tremendous. It is a real boost to the
workers during these worrying times to hear that people are on
their side.
"Scotland's fans are known for their pride and passion so we
will be appealing to them to lend their voices to our fight too
because this is about stopping Scotland's workers from being
betrayed."
The Diageo workers will also be at next week's match against the
Netherlands.
Unite is fiercely opposing Diageo's restructuring plans which
would see 900 jobs go across Scotland, close the historic Johnnie
Walker plant in Kilmarnock, as well as the Port Dundas site, and
see delivery workers contracted out to a new employer but on
inferior terms and conditions.
Earlier this week, MSPs signed a pledge to support the campaign
and almost half a million emails have been sent to Diageo
shareholders urging them to use their power to get the company to
think again.
ENDS
For further information, please call David Tennant on 07917 007
775 or Pauline Doyle (Unite press office) on 07976 832 861
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