Fighting for a fair contract at Coke

FIVE HUNDRED members of Teamster Local 117 who work for Coca Cola bottling plants in western Washington ended a one-week strike on August 31 without a new contract. The return to work was a "gesture that demonstrates their willingness to bargain a fair and equitable contract in good faith," according to a statement from Local 117.

The drivers and production workers at Coke plants struck on August 23 over several issues, primarily the company's refusal to bargain.

The company was demanding an increase in workers' health care premiums by 800 percent and an end to health care coverage for retirees. Other issues included surveillance of employees, intimidation and bad-faith bargaining. A background issue was Coke's attempt to lay off workers, using the excuse of the purchase of CCE North America by Coca Cola earlier this year.

Bargaining started in April, but no agreement was reached by the time the contract expired on May 15.

Although the strike was short, it was active and eventful. The union vigorously picketed the plants creating a gigantic backlog of work for the company. Workers leafleted a Seattle Mariners game to win community support, and press coverage was widespread. They also won international support from the International Union of Food and Allied Workers.

Coke showed its ruthlessness by immediately cutting off health benefits to all 500 striking employees. Since health insurance premiums are paid month by month, it means that the workers had already paid their premium for August, but still had their August coverage cut off.

Such action is unusual, even for corporate giants like Coke, and led to the local filing a lawsuit against the company under a federal law regulating retirement and health care. As local labor lawyer Dmitri Iglitzin said in a statement on the Local 117 Web site, "In my more than 15 years representing workers in labor disputes, it's hard to think of any past instance where I have seen an employer retaliate against its striking workers in a manner as egregious."

The cut-off also caused great hardship for the workers. "My wife had a kidney transplant two years ago. When Coke cancelled our health care, they cut off her anti-rejection medication [which can easily run to over $1,000 a month without insurance]. This shows me that Coke doesn't care about its employees," said Bill Mauhi, a 34-year Coke employee working at the Bellevue, Wash., plant.

This vicious attack on the workers in Washington State is an example of Coke's policies worldwide. Coke has had boycotts leveled against it, especially for its anti-labor policies in Colombia. Colombian activists and human rights groups have alleged Coke's involvement with death squads in the country.

Contract negotiations are set to resume on September 1. The solidarity that Local 117 built during this one-week strike needs to continue and increase.

Given Coke's record of bad-faith bargaining, another strike or lockout by the company is likely. Labor activists and supporters in the area need to be ready to come to the defense of these workers.