Blow for Paisley whisky workers as Chivas quits
PAISLEY’S economy has been dealt a serious blow after Scotch whisky distiller Chivas Brothers announced plans to quit its headquarters in the Renfrewshire town.
Generations of residents have worked at the company’s landmark Renfrew Road site in Gallowhill where it currently employs 589 people.
But now local workers face a long journey to Chivas Brothers’ Kilmalid site in Dumbarton where £40million is to be spend expanding its bottling site.
Chivas Brothers opened a new bottling plant in Paisley just three years ago as part of a major investment project.
Unite the union has called for reassurances following the announcement.
Unite regional officer Pat McIlvogue said: “It’s fair to say that the first reaction of our members to this news was shock, closely followed by anxiety.
“We believe the company should have made an effort to talk with Unite’s workplace representatives at Chivas in Paisley long before they made this huge announcement.
“The company has started a period of consultation on these proposals and we will be working with our members to get the answers they need going forward, and we will be looking for reassurances from the company around jobs, working condi- tions and the logistics of any proposed move.”
No job losses are planned, but Renfrewshire Council leader Mark McMillan has said the decision to relocate from Paisley was “very disappointing” given it had been in the town for decades.
He added: “We will be doing all we can to help and support the workforce and I’m calling for a meeting with the company and the unions.”
Local MSP Derek Mackay said: “It will be disappointing to see the facility close and my thoughts go out to those who work there.”
First Minister Nicola Stur- geon, spoke to Chivas chairman and chief executive Laurent Lacassagne yesterday after the announcement.
Economic Secretary Keith Brown said the government was “absolutely committed” to minimising the impact on the local economy.
He said: “While it is encouraging that all employees at Paisley will be offered jobs at the new site, the loss of the Chivas site in Paisley and the effect on the local economy is clearly of concern.”
It will take three years to complete the expansion, with operations being transferred to the Kilmalid in 2018 and a full integration by 2019.