Coca-Cola employees go on strike

Coca-Cola workers in Ocean Springs say they’re unhappy with the wages and claim unfair labor practices so they decided to take a stand.

Today, instead of walking into work, they took to the streets in front of the plant to go on strike.

Early Thursday morning, dozens of Coca-Cola employees marched out of the Ocean Springs Coke bottling company due to a dispute over a contract. Coca-Cola employee Bobby Kovacevich said, “Unfair labor practices. They’re trying to change our job titles and job functions with different pay. ”

Coca-Cola Consolidated was bought out by Coca-Cola United in October and president of the local union Teamster 991 says they have bargained with the new company for over a week back in July and still have not reached an agreement.

A statement from Coca-Cola United says ‘Despite Coca-Cola United’s good faith effort to negotiate a new labor contract, Teamsters Local 991 leaders, unwilling to come to an agreement, have called a strike.”

Coca-Cola United has plants in Jackson County, Mobile, Robertsdale, and Leroy, Alabama. Strikes have started at the Alabama facilities as well.

According to Kovacevich, Coca-Cola employees have gone on strike before and are fully prepared to set up those picket lines once again.

This situation is ongoing and we will continue to follow the story as it develops.