Strike action is due to take place at Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery following disputes over planned job cuts as part of the company’s global restructure.

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.

Lead by trade union Unite Scotland, the ambition is to bring production to a standstill at Cameronbridge, Europe’s largest grain distillery which employs around 200 people.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, 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.”

If nothing is resolved, strike action by more than 100 Unite members is due to start on 28 September.

According to a press release by Unite, the organisation believes “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 also raised concerns over worker safety and wellbeing due to roles being cut with no proposed reduction in production at the distillery.

Unite deputy Scottish secretary Dougie Maguire, 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.”