Diageo Need To Get Real On Their Workers' Pay

Diageo Need To Get Real On Their Workers' Pay

Responding to Diageo’s Preliminary Results this morning (Thursday 25 July), which posted net sales of £12.9 billion and pre-tax profits of £4.235 billion, and against the backdrop of a pay dispute and imminent strike ballot across all Scottish operations, GMB Scotland Organiser Keir Greenaway said:

“A huge chunk of Diageo’s credibility is built on the back of Scotland and the working class and rural communities across the country that distil, mature, store and bottle their lucrative range of whiskies, and white spirits.

“But if whisky and spirits manufacturing has been good for the Scottish economy then it has been exceptional for Diageo - a pre-tax profit of well over £4 billion is absolutely staggering and workers in Scotland have more than played their part.

“It begs the question: Why has the company spent months low-balling unions with pay offers that fail to tackle the cost of living? If any business can afford to ensure its pay regime tackles the cost of living then it’s Diageo. It’s time they got real on their workers’ pay.”

ENDS

Contact: Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.