Friday, July 17, 2009

Fight for Johnnie


<---This way to integrity and decency, this way to corporatism--->


As you all know, Diageo have announced that the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock is to be closed along with the distillery in Port Dundas, Glasgow.

This is a subject very close to home for me, in fact I live only a ten minute stroll from the site in Kilmarnock and it's 700 employees. Kilmarnock will have no major employers left if Johnnie Walker leaves. The brand started in Kilmarnock, the original Johnnie Walker set up a shop in the town nearly 200 years ago and the business evolved to what it is today.

Now, if the closure was forced because the company is losing money I could understand. But Diageo are raking it in. The closure is happening to due corporate greed. They care not a jot about Kilmarnock or Port Dundas, nor do they care about the generations of workers who have lined their shareholders pockets. I wouldn't normally get involved in any campaign to save a business or site, but this just stinks. They are even hiring temporary workers due to soaring orders.

Show your support. Sign the online petition here or read the online campaign site. (Don't be put off by fat Eck's ugly mug!)



Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.
Benito Mussolini


For those of you that may be interested, more info on Kilmarnock and it's industrial history can be found here.

Declaration of interest. Kilmarnock is not my home town, we only moved here a couple of years ago and had no intention of staying permanently. To be honest, the town is a dump. But events conspired against us and here we will stay for the rest of our lives.

15 comments:

Lord Lindley said...

That's been happening here in England to our coal, steel and ship yards. Yours have been the protected ones and you get all the taxpayers money. A little hardship may help you see how we English have felt for the last 10 years. Ring gordon the communist dictator who represents you in our country. He's stripping us, so it may be your turn before Blair takes over all Europe and shits on all the UK!

RantinRab said...

We used to have coal mines, steel mills too. All gone. Our shipyards are a shadow of what they were. Gordon doesn't represent me my friend.

Perhaps you need to look in before you look out.

I think you missed the point of my post.

The Big Dollop said...

Rab ya Bam

So events have conspired against ya then ?

Does that mean you are on the witness protection program then lol .

I loved the chewin the fat video .. excelent!

Obnoxio The Clown said...

Johnnie is shite. It's no fucking loss.

Unknown said...

Signed the petition Rab. I used to work at the Black & White whisky bond in Stepps so I know how vital jobs in that industry are for the community. Thanks for posting.

The mines here in North East England have all but gone too.

Conan the Librarian™ said...

I worked in the VAT69 plant at South Queensferry, and had a futile struggle against London corporate greed too.
Except this time, there is a Government in Edinburgh.
Lindley:
Scotland was raped in the eighties to keep English tax payers happy.
Here's to Thatcher, may she burn in Hell.

Joe Public said...

As Dick Puddlecote points out....
http://dickpuddlecote.blogspot.com/2009/07/sow-and-ye-shall-reap.html

"May I quote from your 2007 manifesto, Mr (Salmond)......?

Irresponsible drinking poses major health risks for individuals and demands effective action from government. An SNP government will do more to address public concerns about licensing laws and the advertising, availability and affordability of alcohol.

SNP justice policy will ensure a tough clampdown on irresponsible drinks promotions and underage drinking, including action to stop the deep discounting of alcohol in shops and supermarkets."

Joe Public said...

Dick then provides these pearls of Wisdom:

"This may seem a strange concept to you, Salmond, but if I understand basic rules of economics correctly, attacking the affordability of alcohol, at which your lot have excelled spectacularly, would tend to result in less people buying it.

If less people buy it, profitability reduces and companies are forced to make cuts in their overhead. One of the major overheads any company faces is staff costs.

Your administration has spent a vast amount of time and money trying to stop people buying alcohol, then when a company which sells alcohol announces it is having to cut costs, you cry foul?"

The End (Bye Bye!) said...

I've never been too keen on Whisky, but you got to feel for all the shafted workers.

RantinRab said...

Can't touch the stuff Gigits. Turns me into a bad man.

The End (Bye Bye!) said...

That's what it did to me the last time I drank lots and lots of it. I don't recall the ins and outs but I ended up having the shit kicked out of me.

I prefer dark rum and Strongbow - not at the same time :-)

Lester Taylor said...

When they stop making Gelmorangie or Macallan I am in deep shit.....how else will I be able to blog shit on other people sites?....can't happen.....won't happen.....

Lester Taylor said...

Glenmorangie even.....see how good it is for fucking up my spelling.

Ruth said...

Just been & signed Rab, having followed your original link from OH. On the petition I also suggested boycotting all Diageo products if they go ahead with this closure. Hit the bastars where it hurts. Good luck.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Rab, I stay 6 miles south of you but nearer to Ayr. Get out of that shitehole before you become Killie Scum!