Coca-Cola logistics staff threaten strike
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By Joanna Bourke
UP TO 200 LORRY drivers and warehousing staff at Coca-Cola Enterprises could strike over an “insulting” pay offer.
Staff at DCs in Bristol, East Kilbride, Edmonton, Enield, Exeter, Northampton and Sidcup were due to be balloted yesterday (Wednesday 13) July for industrial action. Trade union Unite claims that, if a strike goes ahead, availability of products such as Diet Coke, Lilt, 5 Alive, and Powerade will be severely hit across the country. Coca-Cola Enterprises works with several logistics irms, including C Butt and Howard Tenens, but Unite says its in-house distribution operations are vital for the business.
Coca-Cola Enterprises has put a inal pay rise of 2.3% on the table, but Unite has described the offer as “insulting” and says that an “overwhelming majority” are dissatisied with the igure.
Jennie Formby, Unite’s national oficer for food, drink and tobacco, says: “Unite is balloting its members at Coca-Cola Enterprises in response to the paltry pay offer by the company, which amounts to less than half of the retail price index. It is insulting to the workforce that this vastly proitable multinational is refusing to acknowledge its employees’ contribution to the success of the organisation.” She adds: “The ballot has come after Unite and its workplace representatives exhausted every possible option to reach a fair settlement through negotiation. But the union has been left with no option now, but to ballot members for industrial action “The effect of this pay offer is a pay cut for already low-paid distribution workers.” A spokesperson from Coca Cola Enterprises says the company is “very disappointed by the rejection of the company’s pay offer” and Unite’s intention to ballot for industrial action.
“This year, Coca-Cola Enterprises has already concluded pay negotiations with Unite. We have been talking with the unions in detail and frequently over recent weeks. We intend to continue this approach to reach a constructive outcome to the pay negotiations. In the current economic climate, the pay rises that Coca-Cola Enterprises are offering are very competitive.”
The dispute comes hot on the heels of the bulk of 635 Carlsberg UK logistics employees rejecting a 2.75% pay award (CM 26 May). A settlement has still not been reached, and staff will be balloted again by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, HGV drivers at KN Drinks Logistics have voted in favour of moving to part-time contracts in order to cope with dwindling drinks volumes in the on-trade sector.
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