'Last orders’ for Diageo as strike action announced
Strike action by over 100 members of the Unite union is set to hit Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery in an escalating dispute over jobs.
Workers will begin taking strike action on September 28, and, thereafter, specific groups of workers will be taking industrial action until 05.59 on October 15.
Successive days of action by distillation and process controllers, distillery and machine operators, technicians, quality control analysts, process chemists and engineers will be held each day throughout the three week period.
Unite believes the targeted industrial action will bring production to a standstill at Cameronbridge. The distillery is Europe’s largest grain distillery employing around 200 people.
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.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said:
“Unite has repeatedly warned Diageo that there is no justification for slashing hundreds of jobs across its operations when it is raking in hundreds of millions of profit.
“We are backing our members at Cameronbridge all the way in their fight for jobs, pay and conditions.”
Unite says 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.
Dougie Maguire, Unite deputy Scottish secretary, added: “It really is last orders for Diageo. It has a final opportunity to step back from its callous cuts at Cameronbridge.”
“If it fails to halt these self-destructive proposals, then strikes will bring production to a standstill.
“Industrial action will disrupt the supply of many people’s favourite drinks but the blame for this will lie squarely with Diageo’s management.”