Campaign Against Coca Cola launched July 22nd
On July 22nd, 2003, the campaign against Coca Cola was launched around the world. Organizations in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, and Venezuela held protests against Coca Cola’s responsibility for the murder of union organizers in its bottling plants in Colombia.
In the UK, Coca Cola’s headquarters was blocked, stopping production for two hours, and there were protests in more than seven cities across the country.
In the U.S. there were actions in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and other cities to kick off the “Unthinkable! Undrinkable!” campaign. In San Francisco and Washington D.C., International A.N.S.W.E.R. held press conferences with a number of different unions voicing support for the campaign against Coca Cola. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU); the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO; and the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council have passed resolutions in support of the campaign. In addition, the Canadian Labour Council (CLC), the California Faculty Association (CFA), the Communication Workers of America (CWA), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 have passed resolutions in support of Colombian trade unionists.
The call for the international campaign against Coca Cola was initiated by SINALTRAINAL, the National Food Workers Union in Colombia. In response to Tuesday’s actions, SINALTAINAL President Javier Correa said, “We are very encouraged by the international response to our call.”
The union has accused Coca Cola of the responsibility for the paramilitary campaign of murder and intimidation carried out against Coca Cola workers. Correa says, “We’re living in anguish and terror. Coca Cola has an ethical and moral commitment to its workers and we’re trying to make it accountable.” Eight Coca Cola workers have been murdered during union organizing campaigns in the last 15 years. Currently 67 workers are displaced and 38 more are under threat of death.
The situation that Coca Cola workers face is not uncommon in Colombia. Last year, 86 percent of the union organizers killed worldwide were murdered in Colombia. The Colombian military is closely allied with paramilitaries who threaten and intimidate workers, campesinos, students, and others who speak out against repressive government policies.
The United States government continues to support the Colombian government and its paramilitary allies, having supplied over two billion dollars in military aid since 2000.
We urge everyone to get involved. Speakers, literature and other educational resources are available that you can use in your union, school, or organization. Please call 415 821 6545 or email answer@actionsf.org to get involved in the International Campaign against Coca Cola.
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