Workers at Coca Cola call off 3-day strike

The three-day strike by 250 workers attached to the Coca Cola International Company in Sri Lanka which paralysed the production of 40,000 cases per day has been called off after negotiations between trade union representatives and the management on Friday, a senior official of the company told The Sunday Times FT. The Inter Company Employees’ Union had organized the strike demanding that the management abide by the collective agreement reached between the employers, trade unions of the company and the Employers Federation of Sri Lanka, President of the ICEU branch N. Nissanka said. The workers have not been allowed to enter the Coca Cola factory at Kaduwela by the management and the Biyagama Police riot squad had been deployed near the factory to prevent any unruly incidents although it was a peaceful strike.

Some workers were seen carrying placards with slogans highlighting their demands and others were taking their lunch at small temporary shelters decorated with red banners when The Sunday Times FT visited the factory premises on Thursday.

The gates of the factory were closed preventing anyone from entering the premises. Police guarded the entrance to the factory and the workers said that two of the members of the Inter Company Employees Union had been taken into custody by the police.

The workers were also demanding the company should abandon the decision to re-start the night shift which was halted three years ago. The parent company has stopped the night shift as the production standard of workers was low. The union official added that the company management has enrolled new workers on contract and casual basis creating an impact on the job security of permanent employees.

Eight workers including the union leaders have been suspended from their work on baseless allegations, the union leader alleged. He accused the management of delaying payments of the workers salary increments, over time, Sunday special allowance and the pruning of welfare facilities.

A senior official of the company declined to comment on these allegations adding that the management has obtained an interim injunction from courts against the strikers.

The workers of the company had to face severe difficulties owing to arbitrary action taken by the management. The workers also demanded that the company should abandon the decision to re-start the night shift which was halted three years ago. The parent company had stopped the night shift as the production standard of workers was low.

The union president said the company management has enrolled new workers on contract and on a casual basis creating an impact on the job security of permanent employees.

Trade union leaders who brought these matters to the notice of the management have been suppressed and eight workers including the union leaders have been suspended from their work on baseless allegations, he said.

He accused the management of delaying payments of the workers salary increments, over time, Sunday special allowance and the pruning of welfare facilities.

A senior official of the company declined to comment on these allegations adding that the management has obtained an interim injunction from courts against the strikers.