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Fife-based drinks giant Diageo accused of introducing ‘morally disgusting’ lower pay rate

Inside Diageo's Leven facility.
Inside Diageo's Leven facility.

Major Fife employer Diageo has been accused of introducing a “morally disgusting” lower rate of pay for new starts.

Unite the union made the claim as it vowed to fight the drinks giant.

Diageo employs hundreds of people at its Leven bottling and packaging site.

The plant produces millions of bottles of premium spirits each week.

Unite claims the pay issue was first raised through the grievance process in 2019.

The union also accused the company of dragging its heels over members’ concerns

The 10 members affected by this change are the weekend engineering support for the bottling plant.

Unite believes it would not be safe to run the plant without any engineering support.

‘Totally unacceptable’, says union

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is totally unacceptable for Diageo to try to cut our members’ pay by stealth, introducing a new pay scale without consulting the trade unions.

Sharon Graham, general-secretary, Unite the Union. Image: Unite the Union.

“This behaviour is even more shocking given that our members are living through the worst cost of living crisis in decades.”

Unite regional officer Bob Macgregor said the company’s move was “morally disgusting”.

He said: “Diageo is one of the most profitable companies in the UK. Yet it is hell bent on dragging down the wages of its workers.

“This is morally disgusting at any time.

Diageo’s packaging and bottling facility in Leven.

“But during a cost of living crisis with the lowest paid workers making a choice between heating their homes or feeding their families, it is contemptable.

“This behaviour by extremely profitable companies has to stop.

“Unite will always stand with our members to protect pay, terms and conditions.”

Diageo responds to union claims

A Diageo spokesperson said: “The claims in Unite’s press release are incorrect – we are not introducing a lower pay rate for new starters.

“We are reducing the number of night shifts required to be worked by some weekend shift engineers at Leven.

“We are following the union’s agreed process to implement the changes to shift premiums as a result.”

The spokesperson added Diageo is “committed to seeking resolution to this dispute”.

They also said the company is “proud of the pay and benefits packages we provide to our people”.

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