What are you doing to address the problem of violence against trade unionists in Colombia?
We are concerned about violence against trade unionists in Colombia and have had meetings with government officials to discuss how the country can best address the ongoing threat to Colombian workers.
Within Coca-Cola bottlers’ facilities, through both collective bargaining agreements and their own initiative, the Colombian bottlers work with unions and the government to provide emergency cell phones, transportation to and from work, secure housing, and a host of other measures to protect their workers. Additional security measures are routinely provided to union leaders and special measures are undertaken when a threat against unionized workers is brought to the attention of the bottler’s management. The bottlers have also established a 24-hour hotline for workers to confidentially report any concerns and/or complaints.
In 2006, The Coca-Cola Company supported a series of forums that involved government, business and civil society leaders in Colombia, Washington, DC and London to examine how business can contribute to peace building in countries facing conflict, including development of guidelines to protect security and human rights in Colombia. The report from these forums is available at http://www.iblf.org/docs/ColombiaEng.pdf.
What evidence is there to demonstrate Coca-Cola’s commitment to labor rights?
In 2005, we signed a joint statement with the IUF, the international organization for unions in the food and beverage sectors. In that document, we acknowledge that “Coca-Cola workers are allowed to exercise rights to union membership and collective bargaining without pressure or interference. Such rights are exercised without fear of retaliation, repression or any other form of discrimination.” We are committed to ongoing dialogue with the IUF.
In addition, the Company confirmed its support for the U.N. Global Compact, a voluntary initiative to promote responsible corporate citizenship and provide innovative and practical solutions to the challenges of globalization. Our support is a formal expression of our commitment to conduct our business with the utmost respect for universal principles around human rights, workplace standards, responsible environmental practices and anti-corruption.
Aren’t you guilty of conspiring to intimidate or threaten trade unionists in Colombia?
Two different judicial inquiries in Colombia – one in a Colombian Court and one by the Colombian Attorney General – found no evidence to support the allegations that bottler management conspired to intimidate or threaten trade unionists.
These allegations were the thrust of a lawsuit filed in 2001 against The Coca-Cola Company in a U.S. District Court in Miami; the Company was dismissed as a defendant. On September 29, 2006 the court issued a decision to dismiss the two Coca-Cola bottlers in Colombia from all remaining cases as well.
What provisions are made to protect worker rights in Colombia?
Workers in Coca-Colabottling plants enjoy freedom of association, collective bargaining rights, and a work atmosphere free of anti-union intimidation. On average, wages are two to three times higher than the country’s minimum wage. Coca-Cola bottlers have collective bargaining agreements in place that benefit members of multiple unions in Colombia – including SINALTRAINAL, the union which is part of the lawsuit in Miami against bottlers.
Are you still open to the idea of an independent assessment?
Yes. In fact, we are pleased that the ILO has accepted the requests independently made by TCCC and the IUF to conduct an investigation and evaluation of Coca-Colabottling operations in Colombia. The Company had actively sought this independent, third-party review and welcomes the ILO assessment.
What initiatives does Coca-Cola support to benefit the Colombian community?
We are currently working with community leaders and organizations to help address problems in Colombia. For the 70-some years we’ve been there, we’ve supported programs that aid children, promote education, and bring relief to victims of the country’s ongoing conflict. In 2005, we provided $10 million to start the Colombian Foundation for Education and Opportunity, an organization that addresses the needs of victims of violence and is run by a group of well-respected Colombians, including Mr. Carlos Rodriguez (president of the Colombian United Confederation of Workers).
Why doesn’t Coca-Cola give money directly to the surviving dependents of the murdered Coca-Cola workers or the abused workers?
More than 100,000 members of civil society in Colombia have died as a consequence of the conflict there. Approximately 4,000 of those individuals are union members, since right-wing paramilitary groups have targeted unions accusing them of being close "friends" of the leftist guerillas. Within the Coca-Cola system in Colombia, it's not just unionized employees who have been affected by violence. Therefore, knowing that so many people from all walks of life have been affected, the Company decided to incorporate and provide seed funding for the Colombia Foundation for Education and Opportunity, which addresses the needs of all victims of violence, not just those who are unionized or work for the KO system.
How does Coca-Cola incorporate the concerns of external stakeholders in decisions about business practices?
Our Company and our bottlers comply with local laws and international standards wherever we operate around the world. We maintain high standards for all of our business practices because it’s simply the right thing to do for the long-term sustainability of the Company. From time to time, people outside our Company have called attention to areas in which we can improve our operations, and we listen carefully to their opinions and have made changes as a result. In Colombia, we provided funds for the creation of a new foundation to help victims of violence and we also continue to work with government officials, non-governmental organizations and other business leaders to seek more permanent solutions to address the violence in that country.
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