Coca-Cola Workers Strike in Alsip, Niles

More than 300 Coca-Cola workers at suburban plants in Niles and Alsip went on strike Thursday.

Workers were on the picket line early Thursday morning in Niles, according to ABC-7-Chicago reports. The plant at 12200 S. Laramie Ave. in Alsip is also affected.

Members of the Teamsters Local 727 union voted overwhelmingly last week to strike once their current contract with the beverage giant expired Wednesday unless Coca-Cola would begin negotiations in good faith. An outstanding complaint previously filed with the National Labor Relations Board makes claims of intimidation and unreasonable demands from Coca-Cola during negotiations, including an accusation Coke workers walked around a plant casually with baseball bats in hand while negotiating with workers.

On Wednesday, the General Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters approved strike assistance benefits for the 319 workers affected.

“With confirmation from the Teamsters International that our members will receive strike assistance benefits, we’re fully prepared to stand up to Coca-Cola in every way,” said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. “Into the midnight hours for the past several days, Coca-Cola has shown no effort to negotiate a fair contract with the Teamsters. The company’s unfair labor practices have continued for weeks, and our members are ready to strike to protect their rights.”

A Coca-Cola Refreshments spokesperson released a statement Thursday morning, via ABC:

“We hope to reach a resolution in the near future and will continue to negotiate in good faith with the union leadership,” the statement said in part.