Coca-Cola United Teamsters Strike Day 9

It’s been nine days since Coca-Cola United Teamsters 991 marched out of the Ocean Springs plant and went on strike. The bottling company released a new statement leaving strikers with a few remarks.

“We’re not asking for much. We just want to be treated equal.” Signs held high, but Coca-Cola United employees claim wages are still low. They say unfair labor practices resulting in what they fear will ultimately end the union has kept 271 employees in four Coca-Cola plants on strike for nine days. Donald Noble said, “In another four years, we’ll be no more union because they’ll have enough tier A to cover our jobs and pay them less money. You pay somebody less money, you’re gonna get what you pay for. Us union workers take care of our customers.”

After several days of the strike, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company released a new statement negotiating their contract. The updated statement says “We are very disappointed that we have not been able to come to an agreement with Teamsters 991. However, Coca-Cola United continues to negotiate in good faith through the mediator as opposed to negotiating through the media.”

Coca-Cola United has presented numerous proposals to the union, including offers that increase associate wages over the term of their contract as well as providing attractive benefits and retiree medical. “They keep on taking instead of coming to an agreement, an equal agreement. To me it’s not a good faith proposal, ya know, when they are constantly taking and taking and taking and not meeting us in the middle,” said Noble.

Noble says they will continue to strike for what they deserve as long as they have to. “If we win this strike, then there’s gonna be a lot more Coca-Cola plants jumping on board of the union, but that’s what United doesn’t want.”