Washington Coca-Cola workers go on strike; Atlanta workers prepare for union vote

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/14067

Submitted by Jesse Russell on August 24, 2010 - 2:35pm
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Coca Cola production lines in much of Washington state ground to a halt on Monday as more than 500 workers across the state walked off the job. The workers are represented by the Teamsters and the union said the workers walked out over the company’s failure to negotiate in good faith. The two sides have been at the bargaining table since April with the workers’ contract expiring on May 15. Some of the sticking points are proposals by the company to eliminate health care for retirees and raise health premiums by, what the union says amounts to 800 percent. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, the Teamsters say workers at two plants in Atlanta, Georgia will vote on October 7 on whther or not they wish to be represented by the union. Atlanta is considered the hometown of the soft drink manufacturer.