Diageo Pensions Talk Forbidden

Pensions talk forbidden following ballot notice as Diageo crackdown on workers

GMB Scotland has today (Wednesday 2 November) condemned Diageo after management moved to crackdown on balloting trade union members from discussing the defence of their pension schemes.

Ahead of a two week industrial action ballot, stunned workplace representatives were told by management they are now forbidden from on-site discussions regarding the dispute over cuts to pensions.

Diageo, who recently reported a net profit of over £2.4 billion, moved to impose the closure of its long-standing final salary scheme and will also close its ‘lifestyle plan’ scheme to new entrants, while introducing a new and inferior defined contribution scheme.

Louise Gilmour GMB Scotland Organiser said: “It’s only taken twenty-four hours for Diageo to crackdown on our members - a sure sign from the company that they are going to play hardball in this dispute.

We have tried every possible way with Diageo to reach a mutually agreeable settlement on the future of our members’ pensions but it’s clear the company want every provision on their terms only.

We are not going to accept a race to the bottom on pensions while the company makes billions off the back of our hard-working members and nor will we accept any attempts to suppress our members democratic workplace rights.

There is no question that Diageo can afford to provide a decent pension for its workers and trying to bully our members into silence will not disguise that fact.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Louise Gilmour on 07921 289739 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.