Teamster members in Los Angeles and Hartford, Connecticut began spreading the word about a boycott of Coca-Cola products.
Targeting consumers at Wal-Mart's Sam's Clubs, Teamsters began handing out fliers asking for a boycott of all Coca-Cola products including Coca-Cola, Dasani water, Dr. Pepper and Sprite.
"We're on strike until we get a good health care plan from Coca-Cola Enterprises," said Chris Roos, principal officer of Teamsters Local 1035 in Hartford, Connecticut. "The lack of product is making an impact on all the stores."
Nearly 2,000 Teamsters who work at Coca-Cola bottling plants and distribution centers in Los Angeles and Hartford have been on strike since early Monday morning. The center of the issue is health care payments. Over the past several weeks, Teamster negotiators have sought agreements with Coca-Cola management on affordable health care for their members.
"We will not have our members pay high costs for health care while Coca- Cola still gives out fat consulting agreements to executives who no longer work for the company," said Jack Cipriani, director of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference. "Our members are loyal, hard working people who deserve excellent health care and good wages. We are here to fight for them."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.
