Lower Mainland Teamsters at Coca-Cola back to work

Teamsters settle with Coca-Cola after mediation session with Vince Ready

Teamsters Local 213 members employed by Coca-Cola in BC ratified a new collective agreement on Aug. 10, ending a job action which began on July 24.

The 370 members who work in production, warehousing, trucking, and merchandising at Coca-Cola facilities in Richmond, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, and the Sunshine Coast, ratified the new agreement Thursday afternoon.

The union met 17 times with the company and completed four days of intense mediation at the labour board, with no success. Agreement was finally reached late Tuesday night after a marathon session with mediator Vince Ready.

“Our members voted in support of the mediated settlement and are happy to be back on the job,” said Business Representative Jim Loyst. “They were generally satisfied with the language we were able to achieve for both our pension and health and welfare benefits. it was important for our members to initiate this job action to protect their hard-earned benefits.”

All members are expected to be back on the job by Monday.