Workers at Coca Cola's bottling and distribution plant in Wakefield may strike over pay.
Wakefield Coca Cola plant
The Unite union balloted over 500 workers at the plant for strike action on Friday, after arbitration talks with ACAS on 6th June failed to improve on Coca Cola Enterprises pay offer of 2.5%.
The Wakefield plant is one of the largest distribution plants in Europe which can distribute up to 8 million cases of Coca Cola a week, alongside other brands including Oasis and Dr. Pepper, and a strike could seriously disrupt supplies of those drinks. The union is also preparing to ballot staff at the Coca Cola plant in Milton Keynes, meaning a potential for co-ordinated action at the two plants. However Unite has already invited Coca Cola back to negotiations in an attempt to avoid strike action.
Unite Regional Officer, Kelvin Mawer said:
"Coca Cola Enterprises now face the prospect of a strike which we believe will have a significant impact on supplies of Coca Cola during the hottest months of the year.
"We are extremely disappointed it has come to this and urge CCE management to return to the negotiating table in an attempt to resolve the dispute and avoid industrial action."
Update 26.07.07
Coca-Cola workers strike
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