Strike Possible at Coca-Cola Plants in Niles, Alsip

Union workers at two Chicago-area Coca-Cola Refreshments plants have voted overwhelmingly to strike as early as Wednesday over claims of bad-faith bargaining on the part of the beverage giant.

Members of Teamsters Local 727 - which represents 319 production and warehouse workers at the plants in Niles and Alsip - voted 226-23 Sunday night to picket after its contract with Coca-Cola expires at midnight Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. The decision to strike came less than a week after the union alleged Coke has engaged in bad-faith bargaining tactics including the use of baseball bats to intimidate workers on the job in a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

“To avert a strike, we would need Coca-Cola to start bargaining in good faith,” said Will Petty, communications director for Teamsters Joint Council 25, an affiliate of 727.

The union is negotiating for higher wages, better health care and retirement benefits. But the complaint with the NLRB filed Nov. 24 alleged the company threatened employees with job loss for engaging with the union and indicated managers were “walking the shop floors with baseball bats casually in hand, talking to members about ongoing negotiations.”

The union also complained of delay tactics and unreasonable proposals.

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola called the union’s choice of tactics “unfortunate” in a statement.

“While we will vigorously defend against these unsubstantiated allegations, our primary focus remains on bargaining in good faith with Teamsters Local 727 to reach an equitable deal for our employees and their members,” the statement read.

more via the Chicago Tribune