Thousands to protest at job losses
First Minister Alex Salmond and other politicians will join thousands of people in a march to stop hundreds of whisky jobs being axed in Scotland.
Earlier this month Diageo announced plans to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant at Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow cutting 900 jobs.
A total of 700 jobs could be lost at the Kilmarnock plant alone, where a protest march and rally will take place today.
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition against the proposed closures, including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who added her name yesterday.
The First Minister will speak out at the rally against the company's plans, as will Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP and former Scottish Secretary Des Browne.
Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie will also take part in the protest, as will Tory leader Annabel Goldie and fellow Conservative MSPs John Scott and Margaret Mitchell.
Mr Browne is expected to say that the message from the people of Kilmarnock and Scotland to Diageo is: "You have got it wrong. You must understand that. You must do the right thing. You must agree an alternative plan that respects your workers and allows them to keep their jobs.
"Your company's greatest asset is its people, its loyal and dedicated workforce."
The demonstration will also hear from Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey, who will claim that Diageo's proposals are driven by greed.
The union chief will say: "These are job cuts driven by one thing only - greed. This is a company drunk on greed. It is making mega-profits - more than £2 billion last year - and wants still more."
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