Not the first time Unite's practices have been called into question.
I remember them trying to bully my local MSP to not support Diageo in Leven, the biggest employer in the area.
Think the plant at Kilmarnock closed, but Unite who were not even the main Union in Leven wanted Fife MSP to support Kilmarnock over Leven.
Obviously a Fife MSP has to work for constituents in Fife, that's their job.
"Furious MSP stands by Diageo decision ...from the Courier
By Steve Bargeton, political editor
A FURIOUS MSP last night warned a “bully-boy” trade union leader that she will not be intimidated over her stance on drinks giant Diageo’s restructuring plans.
John Quigley, regional secretary of Scotland’s biggest union, Unite, has publicly “denounced” Central Fife MSP Tricia Marwick for backing plans to invest £86 million in Leven in her constituency with the creation of 400 new jobs.
Unite is campaigning to retain 900 jobs at its plants in Kilmarnock and Glasgow, both of which will close under Diageo’s plans.
Last week the union asked all MSPs to reject Diageo’s offers of hospitality at the Johnnie Walker classic golf tournament in Gleneagles.
Mr Quigley accused Mrs Marwick of “supping at Diageo’s table while workers fear for their future” for accepting their invitation to attend the tournament.
In a statement on the Unite website Mr Quigley said, “We have made every effort to work with MSPs and party leaders at Edinburgh to make sure they are in full possession of the facts on this issue, and that they understand that Diageo’s plans will attack jobs and conditions across all its Scottish plants—Leven included.
“Our aim is to stop this travesty from happening, and to date the cross-party response has been strong and impressive— so for Ms Marwick to then break away from this is yet a further betrayal of Diageo’s Scottish workforce.
“By supping at Diageo’s table while workers fear for their future, Ms Marwick does no favours to the workers—including those in her own constituency.
“There is a better way forward on this, which is why we urge her now to uphold her own party’s line and work with all the community partners to put a halt to Diageo’s plans.”
However, last night Mrs Marwick hit back, and in a letter she said she would not be coerced by Mr Quigley or his union.
“Let me make it clear that I will not be blackmailed or bullied by Unite to act against the interests of my constituents,” she said.
“I have been contacted by Diageo workers and people from Levenmouth, and I know that I represent their views and that Unite do not.
“If Unite wish to publicly denounce me for having the temerity to stand up for my constituency, then so be it.”
In her letter Mrs Marwick noted that Diageo is the largest private-sector employer in the Levenmouth area and has the oldest and largest grain distillery in the world at Cameronbridge and a bottling plant at Banbeath in Leven that employs 500 people.
She reminded him that Diageo’s review concluded the company intends to make a major investment in her constituency.
“It would have been remiss of me not to take the opportunity which was presented at Gleneagles to make the case to senior Diageo management that they should continue that commitment to invest,” Mrs Marwick said.
“While I sympathise with the people of Kilmarnock and Port Dundas, my support is for the people of Levenmouth.”
She concluded her letter by saying, “Despite the hostility directed towards me by Unite let me assure you that if Unite members in Central Fife require my support in the future I will be happy to assist in any way I can.
“They can be confident my support will be as sustained and as determined as it is now to ensure the long-term future of Diageo in Levenmouth.”