Diageo is set to face a fight from trade unions and politicians over plans to make 900 job cuts in Scotland.
Members of the union Unite are to launch a campaign against the job losses and have said that they cannot rule out strike action.
Trade union the GMB has met with Diageo to criticise the move and said that the decision has shocked the impacted communities in Scotland.
Harry Donaldson, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “The impact of these announcements if carried through will significantly affect the economic stability and social fabric of these communities.
“Diageo need to be aware that the whole of Scotland has been shocked by the scale of this announcement which was not on the radar. I personally witnessed the shock and disbelief on employees faces yesterday following this announcement.”
Diageo announced the job losses last week, with 900 posts to be axed at the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, has also voiced his concern over the announcement and after a meeting with Diageo representatives on Thursday said that he was given a guarantee that there would be no job losses in the next 12 months.
John Swinney, Scottish finance secretary, is leading a cross-party alliance with the aim of coming up with an alternative business plan to persuade Diageo not to shut the sites.
