Diageo Directors ‘Shifting The Goal Posts’ On Workers’ Pay Offer As Strike Looms
Diageo Directors ‘Shifting The Goal Posts’ On Workers’ Pay Offer As Strike Looms
With major strike action looming across Diageo’s Scottish operations next week, GMB Scotland has today (Wednesday 11 September) accused company directors of ‘shifting the goal posts’ on talks concerning a fresh pay offer for workers.
Diageo Supply Director Ewan Andrew told GMB earlier this week that the company would not re-enter talks unless unions’ “moved materially” in their pay campaign, despite a commitment that no pre-conditions would be placed on future efforts to resolve the dispute.
GMB learned of Mr Andrew’s intention to renege on the agreement reached at ACAS on Friday 30 August between union reps and Diageo Employee Relations Director Kenny Irwin, after GMB made three attempts last week to bring the employer back to negotiations.
Ten days of strike action will begin on Tuesday over the company’s failure to table a pay offer that beats the cost of living for its Scottish staff, despite announcing pre-tax profits of £4.235 billion, a share buy-back of £4.5 billion and a 30 per cent pay increase for Chief Executive Ivan Menezes.
GMB Scotland Organiser Keir Greenaway said: “We are on the verge of a major strike and Diageo’s directors are shifting the goal posts over their terms for fresh pay negotiations, while undermining their own credibility at the same time.
“A clear commitment was given to unions by the company at conciliation there would be no pre-conditions on future talks to avert strike action; Mr Andrew’s demand for unions to limit their aspirations for our members pay makes a mockery of this.
“A huge chunk of Diageo’s credibility and success is built on the back of Scotland and the working class and rural communities that distil, mature, store and bottle their lucrative range of whiskies and white spirits, yet they treat us with contempt.
“A rising tide should lift all boats but instead we have to suffer the grotesque spectacle of this company’s hierarchy and shareholders carving-up the spoils while workers in Scotland are told to settle for scraps throw from the fat cats’ table.
“Diageo need to get real on negotiations and they need to get real on their workers’ pay or they will be hit with a sustained wave of strike action affecting many of their most profitable brands.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Keir Greenaway on 07855 017842 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.
Notes to Editors:
The full schedule for strike action across Diageo’s Scottish operations is as follows:
All Maturation and Distillation sites except Cameronbridge Distillery - Tuesday 17th September 2019 commencing at 22.00 hours finishing at Wednesday 18th September 2019 at 21.59 hours. (Abercrombie, Auchroisk Distillery, Benrinnes Distillery, Blackgrange Bond, Blair Athol Distillery, Blythswood, Burghead Maltings, Cambus, Caol Ila Distillery, Cardhu Distillery, Carsebridge, Clynelish Distillery, Cragganmore Distillery, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Dufftown Distillery, Glen Elgin Distillery, Glen Ord Distillery, Glen Ord Maltings, Glen Spey Distillery, Glendullan Bio Plant, Glendullan Distillery, Glendullan Engineering Centre, Glenkinchie Distillery, Glenlossie Distillery, Inchgower Distillery, Knockando Distillery, Lagavulin Distillery, Linkwood Distillery, Mannochmore Distillery, Menstrie Bond, Moray House, Oban Distillery, Port Ellen Maltings, Roseisle Distillery, Roseisle Maltings, Royal Lochnagar Distillery and Talisker Distillery)
Leven and Cameronbridge - Wednesday 18th September 2019 commencing at 08.00 hours finishing at Thursday 19th September 2019 at 07.59 hours.
Shieldhall – Thursday 19th September 2019 commencing at 18.00 hours and finishing at Friday 20th at 17.59 hours
All Maturation and Distillation sites except Cameronbridge Distillery - Thursday 26th September 2019 commencing at 22.00 hours finishing at Friday 27thSeptember 2019 at 21.59 hours. (Abercrombie, Auchroisk Distillery, Benrinnes Distillery, Blackgrange Bond, Blair Athol Distillery, Blythswood, Burghead Maltings, Cambus Cooperage, Caol Ila Distillery, Cardhu Distillery, Clynelish Distillery, Cragganmore Distillery, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Dufftown Distillery, Glen Elgin Distillery, Glen Ord Distillery, Glen Ord Maltings, Glen Spey Distillery, Glendullan Bio Plant, Glendullan Distillery, Glendullan Engineering Centre, Glenkinchie Distillery, Glenlossie Distillery, Inchgower Distillery, Knockando Distillery, Lagavulin Distillery, Linkwood Distillery, Mannochmore Distillery, Menstrie Bond, Moray House, Oban Distillery, Port Ellen Maltings, Roseisle Distillery, Roseisle Maltings, Royal Lochnagar Distillery and Talisker Distillery)
Leven and Cameronbridge - Thursday 26th September 2019 commencing at 22.00 hours finishing at Friday 27th September 2019 at 21.59 hours.
Shieldhall – Thursday 26th September 2019 commencing at 18.00 hours and finishing at Friday 27th at 17.59 hours
