Former Diageo Workers Express Fury Over Ford's Defense of $23-Million Crown Royal Agreement
The early closure of Diageo's Crown Royal bottling plant in Amherstburg on Wednesday has sparked renewed criticism of the provincial government, with union leaders asserting that Premier Doug Ford's refusal to remove the whisky from LCBO shelves stripped workers of their primary bargaining power during shutdown talks.
Broken Promises and Lost Leverage
Doug Benekritis, Unifor Local 200's Diageo unit chair, directly addressed Ford, recalling a personal assurance. "You told me man to man that the day I walked out of here, being the last person, you were going to pull it off the shelf," Benekritis stated. "As far as I'm concerned, I held up my end of the bargain and you didn't."
Diageo announced six months ago it would shutter the Amherstburg facility, eliminating over 200 positions. The plant ceased operations on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, two days earlier than workers had been advised, according to John D'Agnolo, president of Unifor Local 200.
Ford's Initial Threat and Subsequent Deal
Last year, Ford threatened to remove Crown Royal from LCBO shelves if the Amherstburg plant closed, even dumping a bottle during a Kitchener news conference while vowing to make the company "hurt." Benekritis revealed the union requested the province pull the product before Christmas to strengthen their hand in negotiating closure terms, but Ford declined.
"Now it makes sense … he was negotiating for himself and for whatever he wanted to do," Benekritis told the Windsor Star outside the plant. "That's not cool with me because that's my livelihood. That's my family's livelihood, it's my friend's livelihood that he screwed around with — that $23 million would have helped out this community, these people, and a whole lot more."
Earlier this month, Ford stepped back from the LCBO threat after Diageo agreed to invest $23 million in various economic projects locally and across Ontario. This includes $500,000 for Invest WindsorEssex and another $500,000 for community initiatives in Amherstburg.
Worker Frustration and Political Response
Benekritis argued the deal undermined worker negotiations. "That $23 million you got from Diageo you stole from my pot when I was trying to negotiate a plant closure," he said. "I could have helped a lot more people with bridging, with benefits, with all sorts of things."
Ford pushed back during a Thursday news conference, stating he "totally disagrees" that the province failed to support the workers adequately. "By the way, if I didn't do anything, they'd get … zero," he asserted. "I fought like hell and we're getting $23 million off Diageo that would have never, ever happened. No one fought harder in this entire country for their members than I did."
Local Perspectives and Unresolved Details
Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue acknowledged Ford's advocacy for the town but noted workers had hoped the LCBO threat would be executed. "That was the only leverage they had to get the factory sold," Prue told the Star. "They had already lost their jobs."
Prue added that the municipality has not yet received specifics on how the $500,000 allocated for Amherstburg will be distributed. "We don't know who's getting it," he said.
The closure marks a somber end for long-term employees like Kathy Delmore, a bottling operator with 25 years at the plant, who was informed mid-shift that Wednesday would be her final day.
