Local Coca-Cola employees back at work without contract

Submitted release
Posted 8/20/18

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Local Coca-Cola employees were back at work on Monday, but without a contract, according to a statement issued by Coca-Cola Bottling Company United.“Our Coca-Cola …

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Local Coca-Cola employees back at work without contract

Posted

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Local Coca-Cola employees were back at work on Monday, but without a contract, according to a statement issued by Coca-Cola Bottling Company United.
“Our Coca-Cola UNITED (sic) team worked into the night and early morning hours to reactivate these associates,” according to the statement released Monday by Coca-Cola United. “Negotiations through the mediator continue, and it is our hope to come to an agreement with the Teamsters as soon as possible. We will continue to provide our customers and communities with the highest levels of product delivery and service.”
According to reports, approximately 275 members of Teamsters Local 991 went on strike in the early-morning hours Thursday, Aug. 9, including those from the distributing plant in Robertsdale.
A spokesman for Teamsters Local 991 said the current contract with Coca-Cola United expired on July 15 and its members had been working on a three-week extension.
Striking workers on the picket line in Robertsdale last week cited “unfair labor laws” for the walk-off, including lower wages, higher insurance, and a proposed wait-period for benefits of up to two to three years for newer employees.

“This is more about the future of our newer employees,” said one striking worker on Monday.
Birmingham-based Coca-Cola United took over a Mobile production facility from Coca-Cola Consolidated in October, according to published reports, along with several sales and distribution territories, including Mobile, Robertsdale, Leroy and Florence, Alabama; Laurel and Ocean Springs, Mississippi; Bainbridge, Columbus and Sylvester, Georgia; and Panama City, Florida.

About Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is the second largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler in North America and the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States. Coca-Cola United has approximately 10,000 associates located in more than 60 facilities across six southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee). Among the franchises operated by Coca-Cola United is Chattanooga, the world’s first Coca-Cola bottler, and Atlanta, headquarters of the worldwide Coca-Cola System.
The Company is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of a diverse portfolio of leading sparkling (Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coke Zero Sugar®, Dr Pepper®, Sprite® and Fanta®) and still (smartwater®, Dasani®, POWERADE®, Gold Peak®, Monster® and Minute Maid®) non-alcoholic brands under exclusive franchise agreements principally with The Coca-Cola Company® and Dr Pepper Snapple Group®.
For more than 116 years, local relationships, personalized customer service, and strong community engagement have been the foundation of its business. Since inception, Coca-Cola United has remained true to its foundational core values of: Quality, Excellence, Integrity and Respect. www.cocacolaunited.com.

Press release issued by Coca-Cola United with additional reporting by Onlooker co-editor John Underwood.