Dear Associate –
As you know, the management of Coca-Cola Refreshments has been in negotiations with your union
representatives and focused on coming to a fair agreement for you and every Coca-Cola Refreshments
associate who is also represented by Teamsters Local 727.
Unfortunately, on December 2, 2015, Union leaders chose to leave the negotiations abruptly in the middle
of a discussion about serious proposals that are critical to the economic well-being of you and your family.
The union subsequently initiated the strike you are all currently experiencing.
Over the past several weeks, this Union has proven they are more focused on issuing false attacks against
your Company than reaching an agreement on your benefits and wages. The Union has made allegations,
which are absurd and just a ploy to stir controversy and create distraction. To get the truth out, we have
requested that the National Labor Relations Board expedite its investigation of the Union’s unfair labor
practice charges, as we have yet to see any proof behind these baseless public attacks.
We have questions about whether the Union has been bargaining in good faith. We promise you that
when union leaders walked out we were ready to work as long as it took to reach agreement on a new
contract. We still are. Despite the picture the union has painted that the Company has stalled negotiations,
there had been significant progress made in the last week. However, your leadership walked away after we
made a proposal that included significant annual pay raises, adjustments to health care benefits that
result in more choices for you and your family and an increase in Company contributions to your
retirement benefits. Unlike some of the misinformation spread by your union leadership, the pay raises
would not have been completely offset by healthcare cost increases.
It is incredibly unfortunate the union chose to lead you out on strike right before the holidays. They knew it
would result in you foregoing your paycheck and the immediate requirement that you pay the full premium
for your healthcare benefits. You will be receiving that COBRA notice very soon, and we regret that it has
gotten to this point.
Coca-Cola Refreshments always has and will continue to treat all associates with fairness, dignity and
respect. We are committed to creating a workplace environment in which everyone in our Company is a
respected member of the team and appropriately recognized for their contributions to our business.
We sincerely hope we can come back together soon and reach a fair agreement for you. That is absolutely
what matters most to us.
Sincerely,
Les Parsons
Vice President of Manufacturing