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Summit held on Diageo job losses Summit held on Diageo job losses
(10 minutes later)
A major summit on saving two Diageo plants earmarked for closure will take place in Glasgow later. The campaign to save two Diageo plants earmarked for closure has gained "new momentum" following a summit in Glasgow, it has been claimed.
The meeting in the City Chambers will be attended by representatives from Glasgow and East Ayrshire councils as well as unions and politicians. The city's Labour MSP for Maryhill, Patricia Ferguson, said discussions had taken place on how an alternative business plan could save jobs.
The meeting was attended by councils, unions and politicians.
It is part of an ongoing campaign to persuade the drinks giant to abandon plans to cut up to 900 Scottish jobs.It is part of an ongoing campaign to persuade the drinks giant to abandon plans to cut up to 900 Scottish jobs.
Diageo proposes to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.Diageo proposes to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
About 700 jobs would be lost with the closure of the East Ayrshire bottling plant and as many as 200 with the closure of the Glasgow facility.About 700 jobs would be lost with the closure of the East Ayrshire bottling plant and as many as 200 with the closure of the Glasgow facility.
Workers in my constituency are worried about what is happening next and what is going to be in the Scottish Government's business case Patricia Ferguson MSP The staff at Port Dundas and Kilmarnock stand shoulder to shoulder with each other in their determination to save their jobs and as politicians, our job is to support them Patricia Ferguson MSP
Diageo has said the redundancies would be offset by the creation of 400 jobs at its packaging plant in Leven, Fife.Diageo has said the redundancies would be offset by the creation of 400 jobs at its packaging plant in Leven, Fife.
It estimates the closure plans should save £20m each year, from an investment of £100m.It estimates the closure plans should save £20m each year, from an investment of £100m.
Scottish Enterprise, the government's enterprise agency, is co-ordinating an effort to draw up a plan for an alternative to closure.Scottish Enterprise, the government's enterprise agency, is co-ordinating an effort to draw up a plan for an alternative to closure.
The company has said it will co-operate with that effort and listen to its conclusions.The company has said it will co-operate with that effort and listen to its conclusions.
Friday's meeting is being hosted by Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell and Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson, whose Maryhill constituency includes the threatened Port Dundas distillery. Ms Ferguson, whose Maryhill constituency includes the threatened Port Dundas distillery, described Friday's summit in Glasgow as "excellent".
Speaking ahead of the summit, Ms Ferguson said: "The workforces at the Kilmarnock and Glasgow sites stand united in their determination to save their jobs. 'Alternative proposal'
Thousands marched in Kilmarnock to protest at the planned job cuts She said: "We leave more united than ever. The staff at Port Dundas and Kilmarnock stand shoulder to shoulder with each other in their determination to save their jobs and as politicians, our job is to support them.
"The workers in my constituency at Port Dundas are worried about what is happening next and what is going to be in the Scottish Government's business case. "We also discussed, what we believe, must be in the Scottish Government's alternative proposal, and the next steps in the campaign.
"We will be mapping out the next stages of the campaign. We will also be discussing the business case that is being developed and the key things that need to be in that." "There is now renewed momentum in the campaign, and now we are moving to the next stage.
Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris, who will also be attending the meeting, said cross-party unity would be essential for success in the campaign to save Diageo jobs. "The meeting today was useful in planning how we are going to take it forward and make sure we do everything we can to save the jobs at both sites."
He said: "The campaign has been gaining greater momentum and unity since it began and we have seen great responses with 20,000 people marching through Kilmarnock, petitions going into five figures and football fans expressing their support for the workers.
"The employees at all the sites are determined to protect their livelihoods and I am absolutely committed to fight alongside them for every Diageo job in Glasgow.
"It is not only essential that this campaign gets as much support as possible but that all politicians remain united to ensure success."
Friday's meeting will be attended by politicians from all major parties as well as the Unite and GMB unions.