Industrial action began on 28 September, with different groups of workers scheduled to strike until 15 October. Unite has now added four further strike dates, 12, 15, 19 and 22 October, on which all participating members will walk out.
The union said the escalation followed meetings in which management confirmed it would push ahead with the cuts. Unite, the principal union at Cameronbridge, accuses Diageo of failing to consult workers properly and of providing "minimal detail" about the proposals. It has also raised concerns that cutting staffing levels without reducing production could affect worker safety and wellbeing.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called Diageo's behaviour toward its workforce "disgraceful" and said the company was making hundreds of millions in profit "on the back of our members' hard work". Industrial officer Dougie Orchardson said the company had refused to engage properly and warned of further disruption to its operations.
Diageo said it was disappointed by the decision to strike but does not expect any impact on product availability. The company said the proposal to remove up to ten roles at Cameronbridge, Europe's largest grain distillery, is "a difficult but necessary step" while it maintains reduced production volumes. Two of the positions are vacant, meaning eight employees would be directly affected, and alternative vacancies are available. Diageo added that the plans have been through more than 12 weeks of consultation, including over 15 meetings with the joint union group and consideration of two counter-proposals.
Unite says Diageo plans to cut hundreds of jobs across its Scottish operations, where the company employs around 3,000 people. It pointed to accounts showing Diageo Scotland posted after-tax profit of £595m in 2025, down from £736m in 2024.
The dispute comes as Diageo pursues a two-year, US$1.2bn restructuring programme. The company reported net sales of US$19.64bn for its 2026 financial year, down 3%, with operating profit falling 27% to US$3.16bn.
