thousands of workers – it is said – the largest distributor of soft drink bottling in the region, Liberty Coca-ColaThey went on strike.
representative of 830 – Masoud On Sunday, he said the union — which he noted represents more than 3,000 drivers, warehouse/production workers and sales/marketing staff — went on strike, citing problems with a recently proposed contract.
“The hardworking members of Teamsters Local 830 have had enough, and frankly I have,” Daniel Grace, the union’s treasurer, said in a statement. “From the outset of our long negotiations for a new contract, Liberty Coca-Cola has treated my members and the entire process with disdain. For a company that calls itself the “best annual performer in terms of sales and revenue,” its recent contract offer was insulting. Compensation is a major sticking point, Nor is their unwillingness to budge on a fair benefits package for our members. Liberty Coca-Cola knows that our 830 local members are the driving force behind their operations and success, yet they believe they can treat us like second-class citizens. We won’t stand for it.”
A statement from the union notes that Teamsters Local 830 members “overwhelmingly rejected Liberty Coca-Cola’s latest contract proposal and voted unanimously to strike.”
“We have been negotiating in good faith with union leadership over the past several months. We have offered our 400 members a contract that offers the highest pay increases in Coca-Cola/Teamster Local 830 history, along with a generous health and welfare benefits package,” she said. Liberty Coca-Cola in a statement.
“It’s one thing to say their wages are generous, we understand that, but that’s not what you need to stay up late in today’s inflationary times,” Grace said at a news conference Sunday in response to what Liberty Coca-Cola said.
Officials from the union said picket lines were established Sunday afternoon and will remain at the Liberty Coca-Cola plant in Philadelphia, located along East Erie Street in North Philadelphia, and at other Liberty Coca-Cola locations “until the contractual dispute is settled.”
Liberty says they have a contingency plan in place that allows for continued delivery of their products to customers and consumers throughout the Philadelphia area.
Liberty Coca-Cola and Teamsters Local 830 continue to work together to reach an agreement.
This is a developing news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
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