POODUNNIT?
Bosses vow to find out who’s behind dram dirty protest at whisky depot
BOSSES at a world-famous whisky factory have launched a “whodunnit” probe after human poo was left on the floor.
Managers at John Dewar & Sons in Glasgow are grilling factory workers in a bid to identify who left the mess in a control-room office.
Sources claim the “dirty protest” comes after bosses at the plant – owned by Bacardi – instigated a security crackdown to stop workers helping themselves to booze.
The firm yesterday branded the stunt “disgusting” and said a thorough internal probe would be carried out “to get to the bottom of it”.
They said no contamination of any of their famous products took place.
A source at the plant told the Record furious bosses at the London Road factory had been studying worker’s log-in details in a bid to narrow down the list of potential culprits.
He said: “There had been leaving drinks the night before and maybe there was a bit too much alcohol taken by someone.
“It was discovered first thing in the morning and nobody was claiming responsibility for it. It was found by one of the management in an area off the bottling factory.
“It’s a really big area and people are in from very early in the morning so there are lots of people coming and going.
“They got it down to a shortlist of around five or six people who they think are the most likely culprits and have been pulling them in for interrogation.
“The offending article was removed quite quickly but they were saying afterwards they could have tested it for DNA. “It’s a bit of a whodunnit mystery.” David Cameron, HR director for John Dewar & Sons Ltd, said the poo was found in a secure-entry control room.
He said: “We are conducting a thorough internal investigation and intend to act quickly to get to the bottom of this disgusting act.
“This is unacceptable behaviour and consequences will be swift.
“Please be assured that John Dewar & Sons is committed to the quality for all of the products within its portfolio.
“We can assure the safety and quality of products in the facility, as this abhorrent act did not impact the product in any way.
“The incident was contained in an office environment, specifically the control room, which is a secure, controlled access entry-only part in the building and was not operational during the suspected time of the incident.
“No production was happening during this time, so we are confident this was not intended as contamination, but rather an act of malicious personal misconduct.
“The safety and health of our employees are of utmost importance.
“We have zero tolerance for anything that could impact their wellbeing or the sanctity of their work space.”
The plant source said the investigation comes after a separate probe into reports of workers stealing miniatures and getting drunk off shift.
He said: “They have been caught by management and security are carrying out spot checks by searching staff as they are leaving the office.”
The company said any reports of this nature are thoroughly investigated.
Cameron added: “Our policy on workplace drinking is simple: It is not acceptable.
“Anyone caught drinking on-premises is dismissed for gross misconduct. No alcohol consumption is permitted on-site at all.”
John Dewar & Sons boast the fifthbest-selling blended Scotch brand in the world in the shape of their Dewar’s White Label.
The firm employ 300 people at seven locations throughout Scotland and have five distilleries – Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff and Royal Brackla.