IUF affiliate and Colombian Coca-Cola bottler sign argreement

IUF affiliate and Colombian Coca-Cola bottler sign
agreement - union rights clauses maintained in full

IUF International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel,
Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’
Associations (IUF)

Posted to the IUF website on 16-Apr-2004

http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?
db=default&uid=default&ID=1458&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1

IUF affiliate SICO and Coca-Cola Coke franchise bottler
Bebidas y Alimentos de Urabá reached an agreement late
in the night of April 15 after weeks of lengthy
negotiations and just as a strike was about to begin.

Negotiations had been stalled around trade union rights
issues after the company had sought the removal of
protective clauses in the agreement. Such changes would
have significantly restricted union rights at the
plant.

The final agreement reached saw the company withdraw
all its demands that these protective clauses be
withdrawn. In addition the agreement included the
reinstatement of one of two union representatives who
had been dismissed two years earlier (the second for
whom additional compensation was negotiated had found
alternative employment and preferred not to return to
work at the plant). In economic terms improvements
included a wage increase of 12% and additional
financial benefits.

On behalf of the Carepa workers and their IUF-
affiliated union SICO the IUF thanks all affiliates,
including IUF affiliates within Colombia, and others
who responded to our call to support the Carepa Coca-
Cola bottler workers and their union at the plant.
Messages and protests to Coca-Cola and to the local
bottler franchise from IUF affiliates throughout Latin
America and beyond calling on the company to reach a
fair and just settlement played an important role in
changing management’s initially hostile and anti-union
position throughout these negotiations.

The IUF Latin American region coordinated much of the
support to the Carepa workers’ union SICO and the IUF
internationally forcefully raised the issue during
direct discussions with The Coca-Cola Company in
Atlanta, stressing the need to persuade the local
franchise management to fundamentally change its
approach.

Ultimately of course credit for this significant
achievement must go to the union members in the Carepa
bottling plant and their union’s leadership. Their
courage and determination to protect their rights in
extremely difficult circumstances became increasingly
clear both to the company and to IUF members inside and
outside Colombia. This determination so evident through
weeks of serious and focussed negotiation supported by
a credible threat of local and international action and
support has now brought them a settlement they can be
proud of.