Over 100 workers fight back against job cuts

 

Strike action by over 100 Unite members is expected to bring production at Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery to a standstill from today (Monday 28 September).

 

Workers will gather for a protest at the main gate of the distillery from 05.00 to coincide with the start of industrial disruption with pickets taking place throughout the day until 22.00.

 

Specific groups of workers thereafter will be taking industrial action until 15 October with pickets taking place on each day of strike action.

 

The Cameronbridge distillery is Europe’s largest grain distillery.

 

The dispute is based on Diageo’s plans to slash hundreds of jobs across its operations in Scotland with dozens of roles under review at Cameronbridge, as part of global restructuring proposals.  

 

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “The company is making hundreds of millions of profit but its management appear hell-bent on causing widespread disruption to its workforce and supplies because of corporate greed. That’s completely unacceptable, and we will fight it all the way.”

  

Unite believes Diageo has failed to properly consult on the job cuts at Cameronbridge, and the company has provided no explanation and minimal detail on the proposed redundancies. 

 

The union has raised further concerns over worker safety and wellbeing due to roles being cut with no proposed reduction in production at the distillery. 

 

Diageo has around 3,000 employees based in distilleries and bottling plants across Scotland. In its latest registered accounts, Diageo Scotland recorded after tax profit of £595m for 2025, and £736m in 2024.

 

Unite deputy Scottish secretary Dougie Maguire, said: “Time is up for Diageo. The company has refused to properly engage with Unite, despite repeated attempts, and it persists in covering up the true scale of its proposed cuts.”

 

“We fully expect this period of industrial action to bring production to a standstill and Diageo has only itself to blame."

 

Diageo produces high-profile brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.  

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:

 

For media enquiries contact: Andrew Brady on 07810 157922 or andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org

 

Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.