Hoffa Leads Rally in Support of Workers at Coca-Cola, Atlantic Southeast Airlines

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Aug 22, 2010, 05:00 ET

ASA Stock Clerks File for Union Election, Join Airline Mechanics and Related at Airline

ATLANTA, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa joined hundreds of workers from Coca-Cola and Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) as they held a huge rally today at the Teamsters' Atlanta headquarters. The union is engaged in historic organizing campaigns at the two Atlanta-area flagship employers.

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"Even though you work in different industries, you have the same problems," Hoffa said at the rally. "You are all fighting for the same things – decent wages, fair work rules, affordable health insurance, job security and a chance to retire with dignity. These are things every worker deserves, and we're here to make sure you get a strong voice on the job."

For over a year, the more than 330 CCE workers at the two local bottling plants in College Park and Marietta have been campaigning to join the Teamsters. These workers seek job security protections in light of the recent acquisition of CCE by the Coca Cola Company. The workers also are seeking union representation for fair annual pay increases, reduced health insurance costs, and a sound retirement plan.

Coca Cola Enterprises management, however, has engaged in a long series of unlawful anti-union activities in an effort to discourage these workers and undermine their federal right to form a union freely. In July, the National Labor Relations Board helped negotiate a settlement with the Company and the Teamsters, resolving 14 separate allegations of unfair labor practices committed by Company officials.

"Our union already represents 15,000 workers at Coke who work under strong Teamster contracts," said Dave Laughton, Director of the Teamsters Brewery & Soft Drink Division. "We are committed to fighting for you, and we look forward to welcoming you as our newest members."

The union also announced that 80 stock clerks at ASA filed for election on Friday, Aug. 20, joining the nearly 600 airline mechanics and related workers at the company who were the first to file for a union election earlier this year under historic new National Mediation Board (NMB) rules that make airline elections fairer for workers.

Prior to the NMB voting to change the rule earlier this year, workers who didn't vote in union elections were counted as "no" votes. The Teamsters Union supported this change and led the fight for a fair, democratic process for workers to form a union in the airline and rail industry.

With successful organizing campaigns at ASA, the Teamsters would continue to build on the momentum from the victory with 8,000 Continental fleet service workers earlier this year.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters