700 jobs go as Johnnie Walker's Kilmarnock plant is to shut

Jul 3 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

KILMARNOCK was in shock on Wednesday morning with the bombshell news that the Johnnie Walker plant is to shut with the loss of 700 jobs.

The devastating news was broken to staff at a mass meeting in the Hill Street bottling plant while simultaneous meetings took place at all of Diageo’s Scottish bases.

And a petition is being launched in a joint venture by Killie FC and local MSP Willie Coffey to save the bottling plant (details below).

Diageo’s packing operations will be split between plants in Glasgow and Fife, making the historic Kilmarnock base redundant.

Diageo, which owns the Johnnie Walker whisky brand, is cutting 900 jobs between its plants at Kilmarnock and Port Dundas, while 400 new jobs will be created through the expansion of a packaging plant in Fife.

The company claims it had to go from three plants to two and Kilmarnock was earmarked for closure because it required the most work to bring it up to scratch.

The announcement was met with despair and rage by employees and politicians alike.

One machine operator told the Standard: “It’s an absolute disaster for Kilmarnock.

“We were told on Tuesday there would be a meeting on Wednesday morning so we were preparing for bad news.

“But when the head of Diageo Bryan Donaghey came out to speak to us instead of the local bosses, we knew it was serious.

“He didn’t beat about the bush. He told us that by 2011 Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock would be no more.

“We can’t believe it. I’m stunned. Johnnie Walker is Kilmarnock and Kilmarnock is Johnnie Walker.

“They’ve destroyed that history for the sake of making more money. Me and my partner both work here. We don’t know what we’re going to do.

“There’s not a family in the town who won’t be affected by this. There are over 400 full-time staff here and 300 part-timers who will be on the dole by 2011.”

Another devastated worker wept: “Now the management have made this terrible decision, are the workers here just supposed to turn the lights out on the town now? There is nothing left in Kilmarnock any more.”

A visibly shaken Willie Coffey MSP said outside the plant on Wednesday morning: “It’s a scandalous decision.

“Let’s not kid ourselves on, this is a company that is making huge profits and did not need to close this plant.

“They’ve done it to make more profits. It’s a monumental blunder and the corporate world has completely lost site of real value.

“The association with Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock goes back to 1820 and with this decision Diageo have brought that to an end.”

Council leader Douglas Reid said the move was ‘unthinkable’. He said: “The striding man is a symbol of Kilmarnock recognised the world over, and one we as Kilmarnock people are so proud of. So many families will be affected by this and I’ll be doing all I can, along with my colleagues, to persuade Diageo to reverse their decision.”

Operations at Diageo’s Hurlford distribution site will be contracted to logistics company Malcolm Group as part the changes, resulting in 64 despatch workers’ jobs being transferred. Another 36 employees will be transferred to other Diageo sites.

The company said on Wednesday it hoped some of the 700 Kilmarnock staff will transfer to the Fife site.

Diageo managing director Bryan Donaghey said: “I’m terribly sorry for the employees here and for the town. The history of Johnnie Walker goes back a very long way in Kilmarnock and we’re proud of that.

“But just like the Walkers went from being a grocery store to a global company, we need to make sure we make the right decisions for our business in Scotland as a whole.”

Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP Des Browne said: “This is devastating news for Kilmarnock, Ayrshire and the whole of the west of Scotland. Loyal workers and their families will be in shock at this disastrous decision.

“It is totally unjustified and I urge the company to reconsider these proposals. They need to get round the table with the dedicated staff who have worked at these plants for generations.

“The people of Kilmarnock have helped build this business since it was founded in 1820. Countless millions of pounds of profit have been made from two centuries of their hard work.

“This is a hugely profitable company and there is no economic case for shutting the plant. It is a mistake which will cost Scotland dear and which the company and the Scotch whisky industry will live to regret.”

Following the devastating news, local SNP MSP Willie Coffey has joined forces with Kilmarnock Football Club to launch a petition opposing the closure.

The petition will be launched at 3pm on Friday at Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock Football Club was established in 1869 and has enjoyed close ties with Johnnie Walker, its management and employees for 140 years.

Michael Johnston, Chairman of Kilmarnock Football Club said: "Diageo's decision to close the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock must be reversed.

"Kilmarnock Football Club will support the employees whose jobs are under threat and our local politicians in their campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock where it was founded in 1820."

Kilmarnock MSP Willie Coffey said: "In the face of such a potential hammer blow to the local economy, it is vital that we all band together to force Diageo to reverse their decision.

"Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock FC are both vital to the life of this town. I am pleased to see Kilmarnock FC take such an active part in opposing this dreadful decision."

To sign the petition click here