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Area Coke employees protest proposed outsourcing |
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Teamsters Local #1035 members, from left, David Mereschuk of Agawam, Dan Saimeri of Feeding Hills and Mike Thompson of West Springfield held signs protesting Coca Cola of West Hartford, Conn.'s treatment of union employees at the Park Street rotary in West Springfield on May 23.
Reminder Publications photo by Debbie Gardner
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May 30, 2012
By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Coca-Cola's current slogan may urge consumers to "Open Happiness," but that's far from what the company is offering drivers and merchandisers who deliver their iconic cola products to stores throughout the valley.
According to Feeding Hills native Dan Saimeri, who spoke for the half dozen striking members of Teamsters Local #1035 holding protest signs asking drivers to "Boycott Coke" at the Park Street rotary on May 23, the East Hartford, Conn., location of Coca Cola Refreshments is looking to outsource area employees out of a job.
"What they want to do is take the soda and ship it directly to [Walmart and other major retailers]," Saimeri, a Coca-Cola merchandiser who works in Westfield, explained. "If they ship [their product] direct, I can't touch it."
As a merchandizer, Saimeri is the person responsible for checking displays and restocking Coca Cola products at the retailers in his assigned territory.
That product delivery change would also put many of the local Teamsters who drive tractor-trailers for Coca-Cola out of a job, he added, noting that the men standing with him were residents of Agawam, West Springfield and surrounding Western Massachusetts towns.
He said the response from drivers circling the rotary had been mostly supportive that afternoon, with many waving or honking their horns as they passed.
"There are a lot of people losing jobs," he noted. "A lot of companies are struggling with this [kind of situation]."
Saimeri said the 350 members of Local #1035 went out on strike on May 16 over the proposed outsourcing as well as grievances regarding changes to company-sponsored health insurance coverage and premiums.
He said that, to date, there has been "no movement from management" in response to the union's action, though the company was scheduled to bring in a mediator that afternoon.
He said Local #1035 last went out on strike against Coca-Cola Refreshments in 2007. At the time the company employed 405 union members.
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Comments From Our Readers:
davidthomas
6/3/2012
8:10:54 AM
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What a joke. You self-centered Local 1035 bums have it made with your 14,898 dollar Rolls Royce health plan that you only pay 5K into.
Do you think you are going to get any sympathy from us folks who pay every dime into our healthcare plans?
Another thing, if the stores pick up their own soda they will need someone drive the truck. God forbid the creation of a new job for someone while you clowns stand on the side of the road with you paper signs.
Also, if everyone boycotts Coke products then you would definitely have people losing there jobs. Obviously brains are not required when working for Teamster's Local 1035.
I'll tell you what, I hope you bums never go back to work. |
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