Mediation to Resume Tuesday, But Coca-Cola Trashes Retroactivity, Adds Pitiful Health Care Increases in Latest Proposal

Coca-Cola Refreshments abruptly broke off negotiations on Monday night with Local 727 and asked to resume mediation on Tuesday, December 15.

After the union had already told the company it was willing to negotiate into the night, Local 727 agreed to return Tuesday. Coca-Cola wasted another six hours engaging in delay tactics during Monday’s late session before submitting one more insulting and pitiful economic proposal.

With just its second proposal over 12 hours, Coca-Cola maintained its position to increase workers’ health care costs — with the latest offer jacking up premiums 20 percent after just the first year of a new agreement. The company’s revised package also eliminated any retroactivity pay for Local 727 members. Retroactivity had been included in previous proposals.

After getting the offer, the Bargaining Committee immediately responded by making good faith movement on caps to health care premium increases.

“The union waited around for another six hours only to watch Coca-Cola management slide another unfair proposal across the table,” said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. “Our Bargaining Committee made more tangible movement on health care in just three minutes than Coca-Cola made all day. The company is purposefully jerking around our members.”

At 9:30 p.m., management told mediators they wanted to consider other options for a potential new package. Mediation will resume at 1 p.m., Tuesday, December 15. All Local 727 members will be kept up-to-date.

Category: BEVERAGE, Union News