Scottish football fans urged to back Diageo workers

Published: 04 September, 2009

Scottish football fans will be asked to give their support to the 900 Diageo workers who face redundancy across Scotland as part of the company's restructuring plans.

The dispute which has already lead to street protests from leading Scottish politicians will now be played out at Hampden Park where Scotland take on Macedonia in a vital World Cup qualifying match on Saturday.

Threatended Diageo workers will be at Hampden tomorrow and also at Wednesday's qualifying game against Holland 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 under the company's plans, will be at tommorrow's game. He said: "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."

"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."

Diageo's restructuring plans will see both the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas site closed.
Unite claims almost half a million emails have been sent to Diageo shareholders urging them to use their power to get the company to think again.

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