Robert Brown - Government must support Diageo workers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Sep 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has called on the Government to support the Diageo workforce to get back into work as quickly as possible.

In Glasgow, Port Dundas distillery is earmarked for full closure with substantial job losses, as is the packaging plant in Kilmarnock.

Speaking during a debate on Diageo in the Scottish Parliament, Mr. Brown demanded that the Scottish Government deliver consistent support for all communities faced with major job losses across Scotland.

Mr. Brown used the debate to call for Government intervention to mitigate the devastating impact the closures will have on both the workforce and local communities for all industries suffering from job losses.

Robert Brown said:

"The Diageo closures have undoubtedly been devastating for the workforce and the local community.

"The Government focus must now shift from the actual decision, to looking at how we can assist the workforce and local community.

"While we will continue to campaign for the closures to be delayed, what we now need is real action from the Scottish and UK Governments, alongside the Councils to get the people who are soon to be unemployed back into quality work as soon as possible.

"I am concerned by the fact that an international company of major importance to Scotland thinks that it can walk away from its social and environmental responsibilities to the country. Diageo - who after all made profits of over £2 billion last year - must contribute positively to this process, and do all they can to assist their loyal workforce.

"There are certainly some issues with regard to Diageo's approach to all of this - there was no advance notice and no involvement of the workforce, the unions or central or local Government in the decision-making process, despite the fact that this could have had a positive effect in making a better decision as well as in engaging in consultation after it was made.

"But we now all need to work together to mitigate the impact of the decision in our local communities.

"At the end of the day though, we are manifestly not in the economic conditions of recent years. We need sharpened tools and new approaches to make a difference and sort out support for employees, and that will require the combined efforts of the Scottish and UK Governments as well as those of councils, to get these people, soon to be unemployed, back into work as quickly as possible."