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More talks over Diageo job cuts Diageo job cut talks 'a key step'
(about 11 hours later)
Campaigners opposing Diageo's plans to cut up to 900 Scottish jobs will meet with the Finance Secretary John Swinney in Edinburgh later. Politicians, trade unions and Scottish Enterprise have held a meeting to try to change Diageo's plans to close the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
MPs and MSPs from Glasgow and Ayrshire will join union and council officials for the summit at St Andrews House. Campaigners described the talks as a "key step" in the fight to save jobs.
Another meeting focusing on the Glasgow side of the campaign will be held in the boardroom of Partick Thistle FC. Diageo plans to cut 900 jobs by closing the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Glasgow distillery.
Diageo plans to cut 900 jobs by closing the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and a distillery in Glasgow. The Finance Secretary John Swinney is due to attend another meeting in Edinburgh later which will focus on alternatives to the closure proposals.
The drinks giant has said it can save £20m a year by closing the Kilmarnock and Port Dundas sites, and transferring work to plants at Leven and Cameron Bridge in Fife and Shieldhall in Glasgow. The drinks giant has said it can save £20m a year by ending its operations at the two sites, and transferring work to plants at Leven and Cameron Bridge in Fife and Shieldhall in Glasgow.
About 700 jobs would be lost with the closure of the East Ayrshire bottling plant and up to 200 with the closure of the Glasgow facility.About 700 jobs would be lost with the closure of the East Ayrshire bottling plant and up to 200 with the closure of the Glasgow facility.
The message they will receive loud and clear is that these proposals and their consequences are simply not acceptable John SwinneyFinance SecretaryThe message they will receive loud and clear is that these proposals and their consequences are simply not acceptable John SwinneyFinance Secretary
Diageo has stressed that the job losses would be partially offset by the creation of up to 400 jobs at its plant at Leven, Fife.Diageo has stressed that the job losses would be partially offset by the creation of up to 400 jobs at its plant at Leven, Fife.
Speaking ahead of the meeting at Partick Thistle's Firhill ground, Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris said: "This will give Scottish Enterprise an opportunity to set out the steps they will be taking over coming weeks and ensures that all those involved in efforts to save Port Dundas are working closely together. SNP MSP Bob Doris convened the meeting with Scottish Enterprise in Glasgow on Tuesday morning, which was attended by representatives from the GMB and Unite union and Glasgow City Council.
"It is important that the workforce in Port Dundas, through the trade unions and their elected representatives have the opportunity at this early point to meet with Scottish Enterprise and to put their views over to those who will be drawing up alternative proposals." He said: "This meeting gave those representing Port Dundas the chance to hear from Scottish Enterprise what steps they will be taking over the coming weeks and to begin discussions on an alternative proposal.
Before the meeting Mr Swinney said: "Our goal could not be clearer to prevent up to 500 job losses across Scotland. "Trade unions, politicians and the local authorities in both Glasgow and East Ayrshire are united in fighting Diageo's job cuts across Scotland and I was pleased to see union representatives from Kilmarnock join their Glasgow colleagues this morning.
"This morning was a key step in bringing together the fight to secure jobs at Port Dundas and identifying key issues in this campaign."
'Massive disappointment'
Speaking ahead of the other meeting at St Andrews House in Edinburgh Mr Swinney said: "Our goal could not be clearer to prevent up to 500 job losses across Scotland.
"Ever since Diageo's announcement was made almost two weeks ago, there has been a massive feeling of disappointment."Ever since Diageo's announcement was made almost two weeks ago, there has been a massive feeling of disappointment.
"With Diageo committed to holding a proper consultation on their proposals, the message they will receive loud and clear is that these proposals and their consequences are simply not acceptable. "With Diageo committed to holding a proper consultation on their proposals, the message they will receive loud and clear is that these proposals and their consequences are simply not acceptable."
"We have requested the financial information behind Diageo's original decision and must now, working together with cross-party politicians, trade unions and business support professionals, work to progress an alternative business proposal."
He said the talks were a "significant step" in the right direction.