On the picket line

Coca-Cola workers strike in California

More than 600 drivers and warehouse staff at Coca-Cola Enterprises in San Diego walked off the job July 1 in solidarity with workers in nearby Oceanside, who went on strike June 30 to get parity with other CCE workers in Southern California. The strike affected deliveries at more than 800 stores in the area. To add teeth to the strike, the Teamster-represented workers called on the public to boycott all Coca-Cola products until the workers’ just demands are met. Of course, many unionists and progressives already boycott Coca-Cola products because the company has been accused of links to the murder of unionists in Colombia.

Letter Carriers support Colombian tribunal

Branch 214 of the Letter Carriers union, which has 2,700 members in San Francisco, passed a resolution July 2 in solidarity with the struggle to defend labor organizations in Colombia. The resolution specifically supported the Peoples Permanent Tribunal hearing in Bogotá from July 21 to 23 “to expose the continuing murderous campaign by government-supported paramilitary death squads against trade union activists in Colombia.” It also joined with the AFL-CIO in opposing the Colombian Free Trade Agreement and any additional U.S. aid to Colombia until the government there vigorously prosecutes and punishes those who have systematically killed more than 2,500 unionists over the last 20 years.

Wis. boilermakers on strike

Members of Boilermakers Local 487 voted to turn down the second offer of Kewaunee Fabrications, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corp., on June 18. On strike since May 12, the workers figured out that a 3.5 percent increase over four years would only amount to a 15-cent-an-hour raise after a hike in health-care payments. Union members have been picketing entrances to the factory 24/7 in alternating six-hour shifts after scabs were brought in on May 19. (Kewaunee County News, June 23) Supporters can send support resolutions and needed monetary donations to Boilermakers Local 487, attention John Zielonka, 523 Harrison St., Kewaunee, WI 54216; phone 920-246-1692.

Wal-Mart guilty millions of times!

A state judge in Minnesota ruled on July 1 that Wal-Mart violated state laws on rest breaks and other wage matters more than 2 million times and could face more than $2 billion in fines. The judge threatened to impose a $1,000 penalty for each violation. The judge also ruled on June 30 that Wal-Mart owed $6.5 million to 56,000 current and former employees because of contractual violations, including failure to give workers rest breaks at least 1.5 million times. The class-action suit was filed nearly seven years ago. The second phase of the trial will be held in October to determine punitive damages and the amount of statutory penalties.

This case is one of 70 in which employees charge Wal-Mart with making them work off the clock or miss required breaks.

Three strikes averted in NYC; one continues

New York could have been renamed “strike city” on July 4 except that nearly 9,000 workers at the utility monopoly Con Edison, hundreds of Broadway actors and stage managers, and the staff at the free weekly Village Voice were all able to negotiate decent contracts before then. But one strike of more than 400 concrete-truck drivers represented by Teamsters Local 282 has had the real estate biz in a tizzy since it started July 1. The strike has shut down the multibillion-dollar construction industry in all five boroughs, including sites like Freedom Tower. But the carpenters, electricians, wire lathers and other highly skilled workers are all supporting the drivers because, as one union official put it, “They’re entitled to what they can get.” (New York Times, June 30-July 3)

SAG deadline fast approaching

The contract of 122,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild, who act in televisions shows and movies, will soon expire. Even though SAG has been in negotiations for months, no agreement has been reached. A strike is not likely until after Aug. 1, however, because before SAG can call a strike, a strike authorization vote must get 75 percent approval. Stay tuned. (New York Times, June 30)