Teamsters Union Protests Coca Cola’s Labor Practices, as Company Shutters Plants

[Omaha Steve]

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6368/teamsters_union_protests_against_coca_colas_unfair_labor_practices/

Wednesday August 25 3:21 pm

By Akito Yoshikane


Members of the Teamsters union rally against proposed cuts in jobs and healthcare benefits by Coca-Cola in New York City in April 2007. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)


Although they work for a company that popularized the slogan “Have a Coke and a smile,” Coca-Cola workers are doing more frowning than ever these days.

While the world’s largest beverage company has come under fire for their reported anti-union activities abroad, the company is now facing growing labor conflicts here in the United States.

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), the company’s bottling, distribution and marketing arm, is at odds with employees over contract issues, union organizing and job cuts. The company has announced plans to shutter factories, and is requesting employee concessions for new labor contracts, leading some workers to strike this week.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents about 15,000 CCE workers in North America, has responded by stepping up its campaigns in states with distribution facilities, such as Washington, California and Georgia.

The relationship between the union and the company has become strained, in part because of Coca-Cola Co’s decision to acquire CCE this year. The integration of the beverage company and the distribution wing has created anxiety amongst workers, who say that the consolidation will threaten jobs and reduce benefits. Moreover, just as Coke is set to take over the bottling facilities, 55 of the union’s labor contracts with Coca-Cola Enterprises are ending this year.

FULL story at link.

[niyad]

1. and another reason not to drink that swill. . .