Diageo, the multinational beverage alcohol company, recently announced it will cease operations at its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario, affecting approximately 200 jobs. The announcement comes just a week after the company announced it would be shuttering that facility early next year. This decision is in line with a broader strategy to move some bottling operations back to the United States.
The announcement, first made public just last week, prompted immediate and intense outrage from local advocates and elected officials. In a press conference immediately following the announcement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed outrage and disgust. In a fit of exasperation, he dumped out a bottle of Crown Royal, the quintessential Diageo brand. Ford challenged others to do the same, a sign of deep commitment to the affected workforce and community.
“You hurt my people, I’m going to hurt you,” Ford stated, emphasizing his frustration over the job losses and the impact on local families.
In response to the closure, Diageo has committed to engaging with the community and exploring ways to support its employees during this transition. The automaker is working closely with Unifor, the union representing the impacted workforce. Collectively, they will work to connect these displaced employees with new job opportunities.
Even with the closing of the Amherstburg facility, Diageo plans to have a strong presence in Canada. The company takes pride in having all its Head Office and Warehouse operations based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Externally, it operates bottling and distillation plants in Manitoba and Quebec. This ongoing investment not only strengthens Diageo’s focus on the Canadian marketplace but demonstrates its commitment to the Canadian market while restructuring its operations in Ontario.
Environmental and government accountability advocates have spoken out against the decision’s impact on local jobs and workers. Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament John Fraser remarked, “It’s a great performance. It’s just not going to put food on the table for the people who are suffering, the people who are going to lose their jobs. You need to have some substance.”
Ford’s comments are an example of a much deeper frustration. One we hear often when corporate decisions leave local communities out in the cold. He criticized the company’s decision-making process, stating, “I always say, smart people aren’t too smart, and you guys are about as dumb as a bag of hammers for doing this.”
As the community is forced to deal with Diageo’s inevitable closure of local jobs, their outreach actions will certainly be viewed under a microscope. The company’s plans to support its employees during this challenging time will be crucial in mitigating the effects of this closure.
