Posted on 07/26/2009 4:33:29 PM PDT by Daffynition
More than 20,000 people joined a march and rally in Kilmarnock in the latest step of a campaign to try and force the company to reconsider.
Among those present were Alex Salmond, the First Minister, and Des Browne, the former Scottish Secretary, who said that the protest showed Diageo had "got it wrong".
The firm has announced that it will close the plant in the town, which has been linked with Johnnie Walker since 1820, with the loss of 700 jobs.
A further 200 jobs are to go with the closure of its distillery in Port Dundas, Glasgow, although 400 new jobs would be created at a packaging plant in Fife.
Mr Browne, the Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP, told protesters that he hoped Diageo take a message from the protest.
"That message is: You have got it wrong. You must understand that. You must do the right thing. You must agree an alternative plan that respects your workers and allows them to keep their jobs," he said.
"Your company's greatest asset is its people, its loyal and dedicated workforce. You seem to have forgotten that you don't own Johnnie Walker. The people of Kilmarnock do. He is one of us.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
With the cost of fuel going up day-by-day, crafty islanders have discovered a unique way to keep their wheels running – fuelling cars with whisky.
The locals of Islay have been running their cars on nothing but whisky, a fine example was Donnie MacKinnon, 66, who was seen tipping a full gallon of Lagavulin Scotch into his six-litre 1978 Rolls Royce.
That is truly alcohol abuse.
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