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Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Miracle League returns
A rally was held outside the Diageo plant in Amherstburg last Wednesday afternoon to support the workers after the company announced Aug. 28 their plans to close it. Unifor Local 200 is fighting the decision and wants the jobs kept in town.
Rally held to support Diageo workers By Ron Giofu
RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU The Miracle League of Amherstburg returned for its 2025 fall season with four games last Saturday at their diamond at the Libro Centre. They have approximately 180 players this season but could always use volunteers. Audrey Buxbaum of Amherstburg takes a big swing at the ball during Saturday morning action. For more information, please turn to Page 9.
Retirees and concerned community members rallied outside of the Diageo plant in Amherstburg to offer support for the workers. Over 100 people attended last Wednesday afternoon’s rally along St. Arnaud St., near the main entrance to the bottling facility. Diageo’s corporate head office announced its plans to close the plant Aug. 28, with the closure scheduled to take effect by February 2026. Nikki Dufour, chair of the Unifor Local 200 retirees chapter from Diageo, said they wanted to show their support to the current staff inside the plant. There are approximately 181 retirees in total that are part of the chapter. Many of the retirees have connections with current employees at Diageo and they wanted them to know they have their backs. “We know the people in the plant,” she said. “They are family.” “We totally support them,” said vice chair Paul Pouget. Dufour added there was a meeting with the retirees prior to the rally with the position being taken by the union that they are going to keep the plant open. Unifor Local 200 president John D’Agnolo and plant chair Doug Benekritis spoke
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at the meeting, Dufour added. The impact of the possible closing of the Diageo plant in Amherstburg won’t just be felt by the employees and their families, it will have widereaching impacts on the town as a whole. “It affects the community,” said Dufour. Dufour said her daughter works at Diageo and was one of the employees who received an emergency alert about a meeting. It was there they learned about the plans to close the Amherstburg plant. Management within the plant likely didn’t know either, she added. “I don’t believe anyone in the plant knew,” said Dufour. “This is (a) corporate (decision).” Dufour said she worked 41 years at the plant, retiring in 2014, and the retirees knew something had to be done. They spread the word through social media and through friends. “We’re all heartbroken,” said Dufour. “We know these people.” Pouget said he spent 40 years working at the plant. He was pleased to see the turnout that came to the rally, noting there were not just retirees there but members of the community at large too. Noting he retired in 2004, Pouget estimated that he still knows more than half of the people who work in the bottling plant.
Continued on Page 10
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