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| Coca-Cola workers strike over pay | Coca-Cola workers strike over pay |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Workers at a Coca-Cola plant have begun a 48-hour strike after rejecting a below-inflation pay rise. | |
| Union officials said the walkout at the firm's bottling and distribution centre in Wakefield, West Yorks, would have a "devastating effect" on supplies. | Union officials said the walkout at the firm's bottling and distribution centre in Wakefield, West Yorks, would have a "devastating effect" on supplies. |
| Colleagues at another Coca-Cola site in Milton Keynes, Bucks, are going on strike for 24 hours from Friday morning as part of the same dispute. | |
| Coca-Cola said its customers could rely on supplies being maintained. | Coca-Cola said its customers could rely on supplies being maintained. |
| While Coca-Cola Enterprises make significant profits, we are not prepared to see our members' wages cut Davy Hall, Unite regional officer | While Coca-Cola Enterprises make significant profits, we are not prepared to see our members' wages cut Davy Hall, Unite regional officer |
| The Wakefield site is Coca-Cola Enterprises's largest bottling and distribution centre in the world. | |
| It also produces other soft drinks including Oasis and Dr Pepper and supplies shops, supermarkets, vending machines and pubs across the UK. | |
| Unite union said it was "furious" that management offered to improve the 2.5% offer by asking workers to sacrifice overtime rates and bonuses. | |
| Regional officer Davy Hall said: "While Coca-Cola Enterprises make significant profits, we are not prepared to see our members' wages cut. | Regional officer Davy Hall said: "While Coca-Cola Enterprises make significant profits, we are not prepared to see our members' wages cut. |
| "Their hard work has delivered the profits for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Their mortgages, gas bills and council tax have all increased but their pay has fallen flat. | "Their hard work has delivered the profits for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Their mortgages, gas bills and council tax have all increased but their pay has fallen flat. |
| "This is the first two days of strike action. We are prepared to reopen negotiations to help resolve the dispute but our members are also adamant that the dispute could well escalate." | "This is the first two days of strike action. We are prepared to reopen negotiations to help resolve the dispute but our members are also adamant that the dispute could well escalate." |
| Overtime ban | Overtime ban |
| The Wakefield operation, which produces 200m cans of Coke a week, employs 517 staff, including manufacturing and distribution technicians and local delivery drivers. | The Wakefield operation, which produces 200m cans of Coke a week, employs 517 staff, including manufacturing and distribution technicians and local delivery drivers. |
| Workers at the Wakefield site are also banning overtime as part of their campaign of industrial action. | Workers at the Wakefield site are also banning overtime as part of their campaign of industrial action. |
| After the announcement of strike plans earlier this month, Stephen Moorhouse, vice-president for Coca-Cola operations in Great Britain, said the company's offer remained on the table. | After the announcement of strike plans earlier this month, Stephen Moorhouse, vice-president for Coca-Cola operations in Great Britain, said the company's offer remained on the table. |
| He added: "We cannot justify a settlement of almost double the 2007 norm and feel this would be unfair to the rest of our associates across the rest of the British business. | He added: "We cannot justify a settlement of almost double the 2007 norm and feel this would be unfair to the rest of our associates across the rest of the British business. |
| "I'd like to reassure our customers that they can rely on us to keep delivering the supplies they need throughout the summer." | "I'd like to reassure our customers that they can rely on us to keep delivering the supplies they need throughout the summer." |
| Another 48-hour strike is planned at the Wakefield site on 13 and 14 August. |