Union threatens demo over Coca-Cola job cuts

Unite has criticised UK soft drinks giant for its “rigid”​ stance, claiming enough staff had chosen to file for voluntary redundancy to scrap plans to impose job cuts.

The job losses planned by the firm involve 38 voluntary lay-offs at its automated Kenmore Road warehouse in West Yorkshire.

But Unite said 10 more workers with similar skills to the other workers facing the axe had come forward for voluntary redundancy and denied the need for more compulsory cuts.

It declared its intention to organise a demonstration over the issue between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday December 19.

‘Do the right thing’​

“Throughout the consultation process, Unite has urged CCE to ‘do the right thing’ and allow those who volunteer for redundancy to go, thus ensuring there is no need for compulsory redundancies,”​ said Unite regional officer Sarah Mitchell.

“Coca-Cola has received sufficient volunteers  to allow them to retain the right number of staff with the right skills, but it is still using this restructuring process as an opportunity to make compulsory redundancies, and we believe this is just plain wrong.​

“Unite recognises the important role that CCE plays in the local Wakefield economy – but what it is proposing is too rigid and needs an urgent rethink.”​

In a statement addressing the union claims, a CCE spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed that the union is taking this action.” ​She said the company believed it had worked constructively with employee representatives to minimise compulsory redundancies.

CCE had consulted fully with all impacted employees, identifying 19 potential new job opportunities for them and offering support to help those affected, she added.

‘Strong platform’​

“We remain absolutely committed to manufacturing at Wakefield and the changes will help us to create a strong platform on which to build our future business in the area as well as meet the needs of a rapidly-changing market.”​

According to CCE’s website, the company employs 466 people at its Wakefield plant, which was set up in 1989 and is believed to be the largest European soft drinks plant by volume capacity.

In April, Unite denounced CCE plans to axe a total of 300 staff from sites across the UK, including Wakefield, Bristol, north London, Sidcup, Northampton and East Kilbride, as “a devastating blow”​.

The decision was announced as a result of CCE’s plans to close its direct store delivery operation.