Coke's storm in a tea cup

Date: 11 July 2002

Union members in Melbourne are stunned that one of the most profitable companies in Australia has decided to increase its profits by taking away their free tea, coffee and milk.

" Coca-Cola seems to want to create an industrial fracas over this issue, 'cause after years of providing free tea, coffee and milk they've screwed tight the lid on the tea and coffee jars," Brian Daley, LHMU Victoria Branch Secretary said.

The 120 LHMU members at the Moorabbin and Clayton sites have now signed individual letters authorising their union to negotiate for the return of this amenity, which has customarily been provided by Coke for its workers free of charge.

" We approached the company to quickly fix up the problem 'cause we truly believed it was a storm in a tea cup - but they said no," Brian Daley said.

" In fact they've announced they're going to install beverage vending machines.

" Getting people to buy the coffee and tea will, I guess, help them inch up their profit margins.

Better business strategies

" I would have thought though there were better business strategies to improving beverage sales.

" The union has now initiated a bargaining period and is seeking to do an enterprise bargain over milk, tea and coffee.

" Our members have collectively written to the company saying that if they want to create an issue then the return of the free tea, coffee, milk and hot water should be an enterprise agreement.

." We believe Coke has breached our members' employment contracts because without any discussions they have reduced an entitlement to free tea, coffee and milk which has been an entitlement for years.

" Our members are not prepared to let the company unilaterally remove a contractual condition.

" It really seems to be quite silly for the company to act in this way - or it may be that the company is deliberately trying to pick a fight over a small issue."

For further information:

Trevor Veenendaal, LHMU, (w) 03 9235 7727 or (h) 03 9576 58 56

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