Workers set to hold Johnnie Walker Experience protest to highlight 6 per cent pay cut

 

Engineering workers based at whisky giant Diageo’s plant in Leven are set to strike from tonight (3 February) and over the weekend in an escalating dispute over pay.

 

The strike action will begin at 19:00. tonight (Friday 3 February) and conclude on Monday morning at 05.59 (6 February). The latest round of strike action follows previous stoppages with more strike action scheduled to take place until 3 April (see notes to editors).

 

The strike action will directly impact on the engineering support for the bottling plant. Unite believes it would not be safe to run the plant without the support its members provide.

 

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s engineering members at Diageo’s Leven plant have had enough of pay cuts especially as the company's profits are soaring. Diageo recorded £4.4bn in profits - up nearly 20 per cent - directly on the back of our members’ hard work. Yet some of our members are now facing considerable pay cuts when inflation has hit a 45-year high. This is totally unacceptable and we will stand with our members in their fight against corporate greed at Diageo.”

 

Unite can also confirm that a protest will be held by the workers in dispute next Saturday (11 February from 12pm) outside The Johnnie Walker Experience, 145 Princes St, Edinburgh and next Sunday (12 February from 12pm) outside the Diageo Leven bottling plant, Banbeath Industrial Estate, Leven, KY8 5HD. The protests are designed to highlight that some of Unite’s engineering members are set to lose around 6 per cent of their pay when moved to a proposed lower rate of pay.

 

In July 2022, Diageo reported operating profits were up by 18.2 per cent to £4.4bn, primarily driven by organic growth, with net sales up 21.4 per cent to £15.5bn. The company has an estimated 27,987 employees, which equates to a profit of around £157,000 being generated by every employee.

 

Diageo produces a number of high profile brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

 

Unite industrial officer Bob Macgregor added: “The weekend strike action is the latest round in our members’ fight for decent and fair pay. Diageo are one of the most profitable companies in the UK yet they are treating their engineering workers with complete disrespect.

 

“The workers keep the bottling plant safe and literally keep the drinks flowing. They will be taking their fight to The Johnnie Walker Experience next Saturday (11 February) so that the people of Edinburgh and all visitors to the centre get to understand what kind of experience the company is giving its workforce.”

 

Unite has taken the whisky giant to task following the introduction of a lower rate of pay for new starters without consultation with unions. This issue has been ongoing and was first raised through the grievance process in 2019.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

 

Full strike action schedule:

 

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 3rd February 2023 and continuing up to 6th February 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 10th February 2023 and continuing up to 13th February 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 17th February 2023 and continuing up to 20th February 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 24th February 2023 and continuing up to 27th February 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 3rd March 2023 and continuing up to 6th March 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 10th March 2023 and continuing up to 13th March 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 17th March 2023 and continuing up to 20th March 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 24th March 2023 and continuing up to 27th March 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours;

Commencing at 19:00 hours on 31st March 2023 and continuing up to 3rd April 2023 when the action will conclude at 06:59 hours 

Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members. The union is led in Scotland by Pat Rafferty.