Union Slams Diageo’s Whisky Job Cuts Plan

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Diageo plans to cut up to 172 distillery jobs in the Scottish Highlands and islands as part of a global redundancy initiative, with 38 positions potentially affected at key sites including Cardhu and Port Ellen. The proposed reductions have sparked union opposition and raised concerns about the negative economic impact on already vulnerable rural communities dependent on the whisky industry.

Diageo has announced plans to reduce its distillery workforce in the Scottish Highlands and islands as part of a global redundancy programme, raising concerns about the potential impact on rural communities. The company has identified 172 distillery jobs at risk, with 38 positions potentially to be cut at sites including Cardhu, Cragganmore, Port Ellen, Islay, and Dufftown.

The proposed job reductions are part of broader consultations ongoing at Diageo’s production and bottling locations across Scotland. The trade union GMB Scotland, which represents many of the affected workers, has formally rejected the consultation process related to the distilleries. The union has urged politicians in the Highlands and islands to consider the economic consequences of the planned redundancies on the already fragile local economies.

Lesley-Anne Macaskill, GMB Scotland organiser for the Highlands and islands, criticised Diageo’s approach, stating that despite five meetings with the company, there has been little effort to engage with workers’ concerns or adjust the redundancy plans. The union highlighted that suggestions such as voluntary redundancies or job-sharing arrangements—which could have reduced the number of job losses—were dismissed by the company. Macaskill described the process as a superficial consultation aimed primarily at formal compliance, rather than a genuine effort to explore alternatives.

Responding to the criticisms, a Diageo spokesperson confirmed that consultations were ongoing and emphasised that no final decisions had yet been made regarding job cuts. The company did not provide further details on potential timing or the scale of redundancies beyond what had already been disclosed.

Diageo, known globally for its Johnnie Walker whisky brand among others, operates a number of distilleries that are significant employers in the Highlands and islands region. The announcement has triggered debate about the future of these communities, which rely heavily on the whisky industry for employment and economic stability.

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