Teamsters Settle Strike At Coke

CHARLESTON, W.Va., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 175 and Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (CCBCC) have settled the strike that occurred yesterday morning.  Local 175 members at Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (CCBCC) in Charleston and Logan went on strike early yesterday to protest the Company's failure to abide by the collective bargaining agreement.  The picket lines were extended to Coke's other Teamster facilities in Bluefield, Clarksburg, and Parkersburg where other Local 175 members are honoring the Charleston and Logan strike.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO )

The Company has agreed to abide by the third party's decision and the Union has agreed to take down the picket lines and withdraw the Unfair Labor Practice charge that was filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

"The Company realized it needed to respect the contract.  I'm just disappointed that it had to take a work stoppage to force the Company to abide by the decision rendered by the third-party grievance panel, whose decision is final and binding," said Ken Hall, President, Teamsters Local 175.

"Hopefully this action will make the Company realize it needs to treat its employees with more respect and honor their contract. The Company's corporate HR representative has agreed to meet with the Union in an attempt to repair the relationship which has deteriorated over the past several months," said Ralph Winter, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 175.

The approximately 86 employees in Charleston and Logan that went on strike will return to work today, April 20, 2012.  The remaining 67 employees at the Bluefield, Clarksburg, and Parkersburg facilities will also report for work today.  All employees will return to work with no adverse action taken by the Company.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 175