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Coca Cola Strike Hitting Home

By Diana Lucio Reporter

Published: Wed, July 23, 2008 - 5:27 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/16243/

Diana Lucio

The picket lines are still going strong outside of Coca Cola Consolidated in Tillman's Corner. Striking workers began their battle against the bottling giant almost two weeks ago.

Larry Evans has worked for the company over 30 years. Evans is one of 275 other workers in a bitter contract dispute with the company.
He says the company plans to freeze contributions to their pension plans and replace them with a 401(k).
But Evans, who is just two years away from retirement says it's too late to start over."There's some of us down there, people with more time than I've got, that we've stayed here all this time building this time up to go. And now it's like they're wanting to jerk a rug out from under our feet,"Said Evans.
If the company gets the contract it wants Evan's says he will lose almost $600 a month towards his retirement, he says he'll also have to wait an extra three years to start collecting it. "It's a young man's job, it really is and I just don't think I can stay that long and I want to go..and I'm ready,"Said Evans.

A spokesman for Coca Cola Consolidated tells News Five the company plans to offer workers a lump sum payment as compensation. Lauren Steele says the amount is based on how long an employee has worked for Coke, but he wouldn't give us a figure.
The company says they have also suspended striking workers health benefits. Two other plants, Gautier, Mississippi and Robertsdale, are also on strike.

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Workers at three Coca Cola plants along our stretch of the Gulf Coast hit the picket lines nearly two weeks ago. An Irvington couple is feeling the affects of the strike beyond the picket lines.

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ckslngr Says:

Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 12:01 pm

iworkforcoke, Just wanted to let you know Mobile is also a production facility. If you are union and your contract is coming up tell your co-workers to be prepared and stick together. Hopefully what we have done here will help your negotiations go a bit smoother.

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iworkforcoke Says:

Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:33 am

The problem with “just taking it” is the company is making it impossible to earn an honest living. I should know this is going on where I live right now and might be headed for the same situation. But here over 500 workers will be affected. The problem is the ceo of coca cola doesn’t negotiate these contracts it’s somebody much smaller than him who’s bonus and future with the company depends on cutting workers health benefits and making them pay more for them, and at the same time cutting their pay and destroying future jobs the company needs, but doesn’t want to pay for. Where I live a strike would not only shut down drivers, it would shut down production, and stocking of the products coke distributes. What well run company would let that happen? The future for the American worker is dim. Not everyone can get medical and tech jobs. Those will soon become scarce as everybody is going to school for those careers they will run dry and that’s when good paying blue collar jobs are needed.

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cmb1 Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 3:03 pm

It’s so easy for people to say what they would do but until it is you, you don’t know what you would do. Because you don’t have all the facts none of us do. So all we should be doing is praying for these people and there families that the right thing is done for both parties!

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KxVx Says:

Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 9:42 am

I’M STILL NOT SAYING WHAT COKE IS DOING IS OK.
But I’m curious:
Which is worth more money in the end? 3 years of work and a 401k or 2 years of work and pension, minus lost wages during a strike that has no end in sight?

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SumOneILove Says:

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 9:35 pm

I agree April. I am totally disgusted by this and I have no family /friends who work for Coke. Its just the point! I mean this man put 30 years into a company and he loves his job. It is horrible that Coke finds these good workers disposable. There are a ton of bad workers out there. I hope they all flock to Coke.

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aprilrp Says:

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 9:29 pm

THAT VIDEO IS JUST PLAIN AWFUL…...COCA-COLA NEEDS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THOSE FOLKS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OTHERWISE, WE SHOULD ALL STOP SUPPORTING THE COCA COLA BOTTLING COMPANY AND START DRINKING PEPSI.

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rosepetal Says:

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 8:08 pm

coca cola will win, people old, young, now have to work longer. these people need coca cola they do not need them, thats how the business world works, no proit no company, their is no such thing as a irreplaceable employee. look at the police dept. most have to work 2 jobs to support family. now that would be bad if they went on strike.

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SumOneILove Says:

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 7:56 pm

That video hurt my heart. I sure hope Coke does the right thing by these men and women.

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rosepetal Says:

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 7:34 pm

i would go back to work, collect back all those union fees i have paid over the years, start investing my own money. these people are not hurting coca cola, they are hurting theirselves.

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