The Socialist 29 July 2009

Nationalise to save jobs and the environment

Vestas - build mass action for victory

Unison witch-hunt: Defend the Unison Four!

What you can do to help the campaign

Afghanistan - Withdraw the troops

Swine flu: Profit system puts people at risk

Hospital worker reinstated

Building support for world socialism

No to the Future Jobs Fraud

Public shows support for Youth Fight for Jobs campaign

Kilmarnock: Anger over Diageo's jobs massacre

Greedy bosses exploiting seasonal workers

Cardiff cuts protest

Street cleaners lobby council

National meeting for: Socialist Party trade union members

Futurism

When workers shut down Minneapolis

Success for Stop the Strip campaign

California's Budget crisis: Huge cuts spark workers' anger

Milburn goes to top of class

Protest against BNP's 'festival of hate'

Previous issues, etc

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Kilmarnock: Anger over Diageo's jobs massacre

ON 26 JULY, 20,000 people took to the streets of Kilmarnock, west Scotland, to defend the 900 whisky jobs due to be cut by multinational drinks company Diageo.

Leah Ganley, Youth Fight for Jobs, Scotland

This colossal turn out, almost half of the town's 44,000 population, showed the huge support for the campaign, with thousands on the streets marching and even more signatures on petitions, calling on Diageo to keep the jobs. The anger has been fuelled by the greed of Diageo whose profits were up 17% in the last six months of 2008.

The whole community was involved with the march, including the entire Kilmarnock FC team, as well as politicians from a wide political spectrum. All the politicians are united around the cause and around one solution, appealing to the better nature of Diageo's management. Alex Salmond, first minister of Scotland spoke, saying he would be willing to offer some public money to Diageo.

If a deal is made, how long will the jobs last? How many of the 900 jobs will be saved? Public money should not be used to bail out profitable companies, instead the jobs at Johnnie Walker should be safeguarded by bringing it into public ownership and run under democratic control of the workforce.

Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) were in Kilmarnock to support the Johnnie Walker workers. The new youth campaign set up to fight for decent jobs for all, a minimum wage of £8 an hour and for free education, was well received. Many people were attracted to our banner and many signed our petition. Several young people also expressed an interest in getting active in future YFFJ activities. We will soon be launching our North Ayrshire branch of YFFJ as we already have a group of members in Irvine.

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Nationalise to save jobs and the environment