- Want to find out more about the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the drinks market? Book your ticket to Drink Tank here now – the new meeting place for the UK drinks industry on 10 November.
Earlier this month (2 October), more than 100 employees at Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery in Windygates, near Leven, Fife, agreed to take strike action in accordance with Unite the union.
Unite said its members went on strike on 12 October but further planned strikes over job losses on 15, 19 and 22 October have been called off.
Unite regional officer Dougie Orchardson said: “As a gesture of goodwill, and to facilitate talks between Unite, Diageo and ACAS, we have agreed to suspend planned strike action this October.”
Join our WhatsApp channel: The Morning Round-Up
Get the biggest pub trade stories straight to your phone. Listen to our one-minute daily news briefing and receive breaking news, exclusives and sector updates throughout the day. Remember to turn notifications on in the top right corner!
Constructive dialogue
The union added action short of strike, including an overtime ban, will continue while talks take place.
A Diageo spokesperson said: “We have accepted the joint unions’ request to attend conciliation at ACAS and welcome the decision to suspend strike action.
“We look forward to constructive dialogue with a view to reach a resolution.”
Unite previously said 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 added it believed Diageo had failed to properly consult on the job cuts at Cameronbridge and that the company had provided no explanation and minimal detail on the proposed redundancies.
Job losses limited to Cameronbridge
A Diageo spokesperson told The Morning Advertiser at the time: “We are disappointed with the decision to strike. We do not expect any disruption to the availability of our products resulting from this action.
“The proposal to remove up to 10 roles at Cameronbridge distillery is a difficult but necessary step as we maintain reduced production volumes. This approach protects the long-term competitiveness of our business. We remain open to constructive dialogue with our employees and their representatives throughout this process.”
The producer of 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, also said the removal of 10 roles would impact eight people because two jobs are vacancies. It also said the job losses were limited to just the Cameronbridge site.
