Unite workers plan strike at Diageo's Cameronbridge grain distillery over job cuts

On Monday, over a hundred staff at Diageo’s Cameronbridge grain distillery in Scotland will commence industrial action, aiming to stop output at Europe’s biggest facility of its kind. Unite members will assemble at the main gate from 5 am, with picketing scheduled throughout the day and additional strike dates planned through mid-October. The dispute centers on Diageo’s plan to eliminate hundreds of positions across its Scottish sites as part of a worldwide restructuring, with dozens of roles at Cameronbridge specifically under review.

Union general secretary Sharon Graham condemned the cuts as driven by corporate greed despite the company’s sizable profits, and deputy Scottish secretary Dougie Maguire said Diageo has failed to engage properly with the union. Diageo, which reported an after-tax profit of £595 million in 2025, argues the reductions are necessary to align with lower production volumes and preserve long-term competitiveness, and it remains open to dialogue.