You may have questions about our business practices in Colombia. We hope that you will take a few minutes to consider the facts.

In a country where violence against union members has deterred all but four percent of workers from unionizing, 31 percent of the employees of our Coca-Cola Colombian bottling partners belong to unions.

• Our Company and bottling partners have been valuable members of the Colombian community for more than 70 years and we respect the rights of all employees, including those who choose third-party representation or union membership. In fact, our bottling partners enjoy extensive, normal relations with multiple unions in Colombia and currently have collective bargaining agreements in place with all of the unions covering wages, benefits and working conditions. SINALTRAINBEC, a Colombian union representing bottler employees, has publicly stated that it has “not a single indication” that Coca-Cola or any bottler has links to illegal armed groups.

The Coca-Cola Company and our bottling partners have produced beverages in Colombia for Colombians for more than 70 years.

• We are proud to be a part of the international community of stakeholders who are working to strengthen the country’s political infrastructure, end violent internal struggles, and restore peace and stability for the Colombian people.

Through both collective bargaining agreements and their own initiative, our Colombian bottling partners are working 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 our employees.

• Additional security measures are provided to union leaders.

Additional third parties, including the courts and even other bottler unions, have investigated and dismissed the allegations.

• 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 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.

Cal Safety Compliance Corporation (CSCC) - a respected global leader in conducting corporate social accountability audits - recently completed a thorough assessment of our bottling partners’ operations in Colombia.

• The assessment evaluated our bottling partners’ current workplace practices, including wages and hours, facility security, freedom of association, collective bargaining, health and safety.

• The assessment found no violations and uncovered no allegations with respect to human rights abuses at any of the plants. It can be downloaded in full by clicking here.

In Colombia and around the world, The Coca-Cola Company is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities where we operate. Throughout the world, we work with our bottling partners on projects such as building school houses, providing basic educational tools, and promoting healthy lifestyles.  

Colombia: An Executive Summary
Colombia: Facts Sheet
Colombia: Court Rulings
Colombia: Employee Safety
Colombia: Q & A
Around the World: Commitment