A LIFE ON THE LINE; Janet condemns closure plans after 42 years in bottling plant: VETERAN WORKER'S FURY AT DIAGEO: EXCLUSIVE.Byline: JANICE BURNS ONE of Johnnie Walker's longest serving workers has broken her silence to condemn Diageo's plans to close the bottling plant Noun 1. bottling plant - a plant where beverages are put into bottles with caps industrial plant, plant, works - buildings for carrying on industrial labor; "they built a large plant to manufacture automobiles" . Mum-of-two Janet Coulter, 58, has spent 42 years on line 32 at the Kilmarnock plant and three generations of her family have notched up more than 100 years of service. She knows first hand the pain caused by cutting the 200-year link with the town - throwing 700 workers on to the scrapheap. She said: "I never imagined I would see the day when they took Johnnie Walker Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky produced in Kilmarnock, Scotland. It is the most widely distributed brand of Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country and with yearly sales of over 120 million bottles. out of Kilmarnock. "It has been my life and it has given me the chance to build a future for my kids but it is all over now. "I am one of the lucky ones as I planned to retire in a few years and have a good pension. But I feel heartbroken for colleagues thrown on the scrapheap." "They are like family to me and it's very hard to watch their hearts being ripped out." Her collection of pictures taken at the plant shows the transformation which has taken place during her working life. Proud She was even pictured with then-PM Tony Blair Noun 1. Tony Blair - British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Blair in 2007. She said: "I have always been very proud of working for Johnnie Walker. We were the envy of the town because it was always a good, stable job. "Johnnie Walker was in our hearts and ran through our veins but that has all been destroyed." Janet joined Johnnie Walker after her dad Tommy told her it was a "job for life". Janet, who had many relatives at the plant, encouraged her daughter Natalie to join. Janet added: "I can't bear to think what will happen when the gates close for the last time. It will be the death of the town." Diageo bosses claim they have no choice but to close the plant to protect the brand's future. But Janet has witnessed Kilmarnock turning from boom town to doom town with BMK BMK Benzyl Methyl Keton BMK Bookmarked File BMK Benchmark carpet factory, Massey Ferguson Massey Ferguson Limited is a major agricultural equipment manufacturer. Originally started in Canada it became one of the country's largest industrial concerns in the 1960s. tractors, Saxone shoes and Glenfield &Kennedy closing or scaling down. She said: "Everyone has given up hope. They feel helpless and betrayed. I just hope I am not there to witness the gates closing. I couldn't bear it." reporters@sundaymail.co.uk CAPTION(S): Message in a bottle: Janet has spent 42 years at plant, top, and is broken-hearted at the threat to her pals and colleagues Famous visitor: Janet, centre, meets Tony Blair at plant |
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