172 Diageo distillery workers have been placed at risk of redundancy in the Highlands and Islands

GMB Scotland, the trade union representing distillery workers in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, issued a statement on 3 August 2026 confirming that 172 Diageo employees across the region have been placed at risk of redundancy, with 38 positions confirmed to be lost as part of what the union describes as “a huge global redundancy programme.” The four-week formal consultation process concluded last week without any agreement being reached between Diageo and the union on the number of job losses or the process by which they will be determined. GMB Scotland said it has formally rejected the consultation outcome and plans to write to politicians across the Highlands and Islands warning of the economic impact on rural communities.