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After more than a century, whisky production in Amherstburg, Ontario has come to an end. The landmark Crown Royal plant was shuttered on February 25, as parent company Diageo moved more than 200 jobs held by Unifor Local 200 members to the United States, a move aimed at appeasing Donald Trump. After 25 years on the job, Unifor Local 200 Diageo Chair Doug Benekritis has delivered his final report, marking the end of an era for workers, their families and the entire community.
Brothers, Sisters, and friends,
Standing here after 24 years as a proud member of this union isn’t easy. When I first walked through those plant doors, I was just looking for a job. What I found was a family.
Through good contracts and tough negotiations, long shifts and even longer grievances, this union was the backbone of our workplace. When times were uncertain, we stood together. When one of us struggled, we all felt it. That’s what solidarity really means — not just a word on a banner, but boots on the ground, shoulders side by side.
The closing of our plant is hard. It hurts. For many of us, this wasn’t just employment — it was 20, 30, sometimes 40 years of pride, routine, and purpose. But I want to be clear about something: while a company can close a plant, it cannot close a union. That strength doesn’t disappear when the lights go out. It lives in every one of you.
I want to thank our leadership — past and present — for the countless hours you’ve put in. The meetings no one sees. The phone calls late at night. The fights at the bargaining table. Thank you for protecting our wages, our safety, our dignity. Thank you for making sure that when we left here, we left with our heads high.
To the stewards and committee members — you are the heartbeat of this union. You’re the ones who step up when it would be easier to stay quiet. You are proof that this union works because its members make it work.
And to the younger members and the new faces: this is your moment.
Don’t just carry a card — carry responsibility. Join a committee. Become a steward. Attend meetings. Ask questions. Push for transparency. Bring new energy and new ideas. The future of this union isn’t written by the loudest voice in the room — it’s written by the members who show up.
If this closure teaches us anything, it’s that job security isn’t guaranteed — but unity is powerful. The more involved you are, the stronger this union becomes. Your voice matters. Your participation matters.
I leave here proud. Proud of the work we did. Proud of the friendships we built. Proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with all of you for 24 years.
We may be walking out of these doors, but we are not walking away from what we built together.
Stay united. Stay involved. And never forget — the strength of a union isn’t in a building. It’s in its members.
Thank you.
