Welcome to our RSS Feedhttp://www.savejohnniewalker.org9 September 2009 For Immediate Release Attn: Newsdesks DIAGEO DECISION IS TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED WALSH MUST EXPLAIN COMPANYS THINKING Reacting to the announcement that Diageo is determined to continue with its closure plans, Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock & Loudoun, has called the decision totally unjustified and demanded that Paul Walsh, Diageo CEO, visits Kilmarnock to explain the decision. Mr Coffey said "Diageo has chosen to ignore the sound case - both economic and social - for remaining in Kilmarnock. However, they have not provided access to the facts to back up their decision. "They say the economic gap is still significant but havent said what it is. In any case, with profits of £2.6 billion in their pockets it can hardly be a gap that cant be bridged. "The Scottish Government offered them the exciting prospect of a green field site in the Kilmarnock area, together with a partnership based redevelopment of the Hill Street site. This could have seen Kilmarnock College relocate there, alongside a world class Whisky Heritage Centre, and quality housing. "Long-term this would be a huge asset of great value to the company. It is a fantastic proposal and I dont understand why Diageo still reject it. "For Diageo to walk away from us after 189 years is just shocking and totally unjustified. It appears that the people of Kilmarnock care more about the future of Johnnie Walker than Diageo do about us. "Its vital that the Scottish Parliaments Economy Committee carries out an inquiry into the future of the Scotch whisky industry. Those involved in the industry must explain how decisions like this can be justified in such an iconic industry. ###Ends### Contact: Constituency Office: 01563 537300 Parliamentary Office: 0131 348 6514 / 0131 348 6515 Notes 1 Mr Coffey has been advised that members of the workforce at the companys plant in Kilmarnock can not recall Mr Walsh ever visiting the plant. 2 At its meeting on 9 September, the Economy, Energy, and Tourism Committee discussed Mr Coffeys call for an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry. The committee agreed to ask for a briefing from the Scottish Parliaments Information Centre. The Scotch Whisky Association has already confirmed that it would co-operate with such an inquiry.http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2291Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.com"Man has been creating alcohol-based drinks for many thousands of years. The ancient Sumerians were the first known beer drinkers and may have stumbled across the process of brewing by chance. Creating premium beverage alcohol is a process that carries a little mystery and magic with it. How does an Islay whisky capture the essence of its maritime home? Why is a Guinness ruby-black? Can white wine be made with red grapes? Diageo is proud to offer many of the most unique, exciting and historically significant alcohol beverages available. In our distilleries, vineyards and breweries, you will find tradition and technology working together, ensuring we can maintain each brands’ heritage and quality, meet commercial demand and excite consumers with new ideas." http://www.diageo.com/en-row/OurBrands/Howwemakeourbrandshttp://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2289Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.comThe campaign to stave off 900 redundancies at Diageo will enter a new phase tomorrow with the presentation of further details on an alternative proposition to the firm. Finance Secretary John Swinney told Parliament today that the closure of the Kilmarnock bottling plant would cost the local economy over 15 million pounds a year and that every job lost would cost the public sector at least 10,000 pounds. Mr Swinney will tomorrow meet Diageo to provide more detail of the alternative proposal agreed by the taskforce set up to reverse the companys decision. Mr Swinney said: "Our intention has always been to produce a solution which suits Diageos business needs and is in Scotlands best interest. Our work to reverse Diageos plans is about safeguarding economically fragile communities of Kilmarnock and Port Dundas. The 900 jobs in the West of Scotland are existing jobs which matter to the individuals, their families, and also to the wider community. "An independent assessment of the impact of Diageos proposals has been conducted by EKOS for Scottish Enterprise and East Ayrshire Council. The closure of the Kilmarnock plant is estimated to take 15.5 million pounds annually out of the local economy, based on loss of income from employees and losses from local suppliers, investment expenditure and from eliminating support to local charities. EKOS estimate that the cost to the public sector for every job loss is initially 10,000 pounds - 20,000 pounds per annum. These are very telling figures and demonstrate the scale of Diageos contribution to these communities and the devastating effects their actions would have on them. "Diageo has a responsibility to the communities who have contributed so much to the company and their profits over generations; communities who have fully supported the success of the world renowned Johnnie Walker brand. "Our alternative proposals are detailed, deliverable and in our collective interest and we are about to start negotiations with Diageo. I welcome the united cross-party support for this campaign and the recognition that Diaegos proposals are not desirable and not in companys or this countrys best interests. "I look forward to meeting Diageo tomorrow and working with them to achieve a solution which is in the best interests of the workforce, the company and Scotland as a whole." Mr Swinney and Jack Perry, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise will meet tomorrow with Bryan Donaghey, Managing Director for Diageo Scotland and David Gosnell, Diageo plcs Managing director, Global Supply and Global Procurement Mr Swinney will provide further details to Diageo of the taskforces alternative proposal, which will focus on continuing production activity at Port Dundas in Glasgow and the development of a new bottling plant in Kilmarnock on a greenfield site. Following the meeting, John Swinney will hold an on the record media briefing and will be available for broadcast interviews following the briefing. Location: Committee Room 6, Scottish Parliament. Time: 1630http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2287Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.com[bold]Support is growing for the call by Willie Coffey MSP for the Scottish Parliaments Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee to conduct an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry.[endbold] This article on the Argyll News website raises interesting issues about the treatment by Daigeo of other brands in their portfolio. http://forargyll.com/2009/07/diageo-the-real-issue-is-the-scotch-whisky-industry/ The same issues emerge as are raised by the Johnnie Walker decision; that Diageo appears determined to undermine links between whiskies and their place of origin. The article sparked an interesting debate, which can also be found on the website. While the focus at present is on Diageo, their decisions raise matters of general interest across the industry.http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2268Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.com[bold]Forthcoming debate in the Scottish Parliament[endbold] Willie Coffey MSP has submitted the following motion to the parliament: S3M-04647# Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Scottish National Party): Campaign Against Diageo Closures— That the Parliament, further to motion S3M-04568 lodged on 6 July 2009, notes that a major cross-party campaign has been established to oppose Diageos restructuring proposals that would see the closure of plants at Kilmarnock, Hurlford and Port Dundas with the loss of hundreds of jobs in the Scotch whisky industry and a devastating impact on local communities; endorses the statement by the First Minister calling these proposals socially unacceptable; welcomes the action of the Scottish Government in commissioning an alternative business plan for consideration by Diageo, and echoes the call of thousands of people who took part in the march and rally in Kilmarnock on 26 July for a secure and successful future for the workers and their communities and for the company. By 6 August, the motion had received the support of the following MSPs: Sandra White, Dr Alasdair Allan, Trish Godman, Maureen Watt, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Bill Wilson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Michael Matheson, John Scott, Stewart Maxwell, Dr Christopher Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Ross Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, Nigel Don, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Andrew Welsh. As the motion has received cross-party support, from Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP members, it is eligible to be considered for a debate, led by Mr Coffey in the debating chamber of the parliament. The planned date for such a debate is the first day the parliament returns after the recess, 2nd September. This will be confirmed by the parliaments Business Bureau. [bold]Call for an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry[endbold] Willie Coffey MSP has called for the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry. Mr Coffeys call for an inquiry came after he was approached by people within the industry concerned that it has been less successful in recent years than might have been expected of such an internationally renowned product. Among the evidence Mr Coffey has drawn to the committees attention is that releases of whisky to the UK market have dropped by about 40% in the past 30 years, despite alcohol sales in the UK increasing substantially over that period. The announcement of a further 100 redundancies by Whyte & McKay has emphasised the need for the parliament to understand where this important industry is going. The convenor of the committee, Ian Smith MSP, has confirmed that the committee will meet on 9th September and will consider the call for an inquiry at that meeting. http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2261Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.comWeve been busy emailing every expat Scot to ask for their help. Heres a great email that was sent to Diageo from a pilot :- To: ConsumerInfo.Carefor.GB@diageo.com Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:48:34 EDT Subject: Johnnie Walker Gentlemen, I was born in Kilmarnock. Some time has passed since then (12th April 1944) but I still call the place home. I live in the United States of America now and we have our own set of problems with "down sizing," "consolidation," "corporate mergers," the list goes on. As a result of all of this "efficiency" and "cost cutting," our unemployment rate has just hit 9.5% and is rising. We have a saying here: If it aint broke, dont fix it. I can only wonder at this decision. The cost of relocation. The cost of training a new work force. The loss of the experienced work force and the effect it will have on the quality of your product. All of that can be quantified and a price tag put on it, but what about the effect on your people. People who have worked hard and kept your operation profitable for so long. Corporate responsibility to the people and the town seems to be a long way down the list of your priorities. Gentlemen, if it aint broke................. James Dickie Chief Pilot Plane 1 LLC http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2260Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.comIts two weeks to the day that the online petition was launched. And in that short space of time over 9000 people have signed. An incredible response. But the petition is only 400 or so signatures short of a magical 10,000. So get on to all your email contacts and everyone you know on Facebook and Bebo and urge them to sign up. Today! Lets all send a clear message to Diageo - that this campaign isnt going away. Dont Walk out on Killie!! http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-johnnie-walkers-link-to-kilmarnock/sign.html http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2257Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.comAnd a petition and poster! Everyone who is going on holiday - at home and abroad - can help the Save Johnnie Walker campaign reach a much bigger audience. Johnnie Walker whisky is famous the world over - everyone knows it and you will find it on the gantry of most bars, pubs and hotels. And it is vital that people who know and appreciate it, and sell it, know what Diageo is doing to its heritage. And especially that they are destroying 700 jobs in the process. So as well as packing suntan lotion and a beach towel - or cagoules and midgie cream if you are staying in Scotland! - make sure you pack a campaign Tshirt, a copy of the petition and a poster. Copies of the petition can be collected from East Ayrshire Council HQ at London Rd, Kilmarnock or from Willie Coffey MSPs office at 1 Willock Street, Kilmarnock (Riccarton). You can get posters from here as well - or make your own from the images in the gallery on this site. Same applies with T shirts. Have a great holiday!http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2256Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.comIf you are heading down the coast later this week to watch the Open and want to help the Save Johnnie Walker campaign please: get in touch with Willie Coffey MSPs office on 01563 537 300 or at willie.coffey@msp-office.co.uk or visit! The office is at 1 Willock Street, Kilmarnock they have Tshirts and maybe a few other items too to help you show your support! also call in at East Ayrshire Council HQ in London Road to pick up some petition sheets to take with you Hope the sun shines and you have a good day!http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2255Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.comWhy am I thinking the local cooncil couldnt run a bath?! The details for the march and rally on Sunday 26th July have changed. Here is the information from the cooncils campaign website: East Ayrshire Council is calling upon local people to Stride Forward Together to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock! The Council is organising a march and rally which will take place on Sunday 26 July. The march will now start at 1pm at the Howard Park, ending with a mass rally at the Kay Park. Further information on arrangements for the march will be available from the campaign website www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com and in your local newspaper. THIS campaign website will of course keep folks updated with details about the march and rally and advise of any further changes. A couple of points to get off my chest: - this campaign website was set up for free by a concerned local man and was here first - would it have been too much to expect of the cooncil to link into the grassroots campaign rather than set up their own alternative site that will simply just confuse folk? - what is this striding man thing? Confusing campaign messages not helpful - for the campaign to work we need clear messages that everyone is using. Again I cant help feeling they come up with their own message because they came late to the cause and clearly felt they could not adopt any of the messages already being established, especially the Dont Walk out on Killie one developed by Kilmarnock FC and Willie Coffey MSP for the on line petition. How mature. - The banner on the cooncil campaign website says "one campaign, one message". See above. Sort yirsels out cooncil! - Who decided the cooncil was best placed to run and co-ordinate the "official" campaign? See opening line above for view on their ability to do this.... And have they included anyone else campaigning, especially the workers, in their committee? Make no mistake - they will have a committee. So a plea - a big one - 700 jobs and many more livelihoods depend on the success of this/these campaigns, as well as Kilmarnocks and Scotlands heritage: Will the agencies and individuals in a position to lead and resource campaign activity please please start working together? And ensure they include the workers, their families, and grassroots supporters like this website and the Facebook group. This campaign has only just begun and it needs to keep everyone united in the journey ahead if the Diageo decision is to be reversed. http://www.savejohnniewalker.org/rssreader.php?id=2253Copyright 2008, scruffyred.comadmin@scruffyred.com