Employees at Calgary’s Coca-Cola plant walked off the job on Monday morning.
According to the union representing the workers, the strike was in response to a dispute over job security concerns and third-party outsourcing.
Teamsters Local Union 987 of Alberta (Teamsters 987) represents some 268 workers at the Coca-Cola Refreshments plant in Calgary.
In a news release, the union said plant workers have “steadily been losing job hours to third-party contractors, reducing their ability to earn a suitable livelihood for themselves and their families.”
“Coca-Cola’s actions are limiting employees’ ability to fulfill their hours on good-paying jobs, creating an insecure and worrying work environment while some of their work is fulfilled by non-union contractors.”
Affected union members – who are employed in warehouse, production, and distribution and equipment service roles — voted 94 per cent in favour of strike action on March 4.
“We’ve been in negotiations with Coca-Cola since the end of September 2020 and things started out fairly smooth, but then we really hit a snag when we got to the point in the collective agreement process where the membership made it very clear that we want job protection, we want job security,” Teamsters 987 spokesperson Brock Penner said.
“So we’re looking for job security where the membership can know that we have a job to go to today, tomorrow and for the life of the agreement. (We want) job security around the term of the agreement — whether it’s a two-, three-, four-, five- or six-year deal.
“We’ve slowly seen the company transition some of the jobs and some of the workers to a third-party warehouse (and) third-party drivers are taking over some of the work that our drivers would have done. What we’ve seen recently is members that have been with the company for about 12 years sitting at home, not getting hours, and yet we have third-party drivers that are coming into the yard, picking up loads, doing shuttles,” Penner said.
“It is not about money. Not at all. It’s about job protection.”
“We’ve gone through this pandemic, showing up consistently to work, being dedicated, making sure that the product is getting to the store,” Penner added. “Now it’s time for the company to sit up at a table (and) agree to some language that allows them to know that their futures are secure.”
Penner said the workers are ready to strike for “as long as it takes.”
“These members have said to me, they’re willing to do whatever it takes and stay out however long it takes.”
Penner believes the strike will likely affect the delivery of beverage products to Alberta customers, including restaurants, grocery and retail stores.
“I am positive that — not today, maybe not tomorrow — but as this strike continues on, you will start to see effects in your grocery store,” Penner said.
“If there is product, what these members are asking is that you show support by looking over at the next brand that’s next to it, and, as opposed to purchasing a Coca-Cola refreshment – look to purchase something else.”
“Ultimately, what we need is public support.”
In an email to Global News, Coca-Cola said it was disappointed the union had chosen to stop negotiating and go on strike.
“This is an unnecessary and unfortunate situation,” the statement read.
“We did reach an agreement with the union twice, however, neither of those agreements was ratified by the union’s membership.
“It is important to note is that we did not seek any concessions during collective bargaining. We have put forth a proposal that provides long-term stability, offers wage increases, and other improved working conditions, while still meeting the needs of our business in these extraordinary times.
“We’re committed to the collective bargaining process and are prepared to return to the bargaining table to reach a resolution as soon as possible.”