Coca-Cola Strike 2015: Union Workers Claim Management Intimidated Them With Baseball Bats

They're seeking better wages and benefits.

Chicago-area workers at two different Coca-Cola plants are striking this morning. The Teamsters Local 727 union is protesting unfair labor practices, some of which are related to ongoing contract negotiations, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The workers' contract expired at midnight on Tuesday, and the parties have yet to be able to reach an agreement on a new one. The union is seeking better wages and benefits, and to address the issue of "mandatory overtime" that it says cuts into its workers personal lives. According to a statement posted to the union's website, the company "has bargained in bad faith, intimidated workers with baseball bats and threatened unionized employees with job loss in an effort to delay contract negotiations for months." (Per the Tribune, the union alleges that management would "[walk] the shop floor casually carrying baseball bats.")

While the union believes the strike will affect production at the plants, the company feels otherwise, telling the Tribune that it's "prepared to continue production." Eater has reached out to Coca-Cola for comment on the strike.

Coca-Cola has suffered its fair share of bad headlines as of late: The company pulled an ad from its social media channels earlier this week following accusations that it was racist and offensive to indigenous Mexicans. Meanwhile, a shady anti-obesity group that the company funded has suddenly folded after it was revealed Coca-Cola was largely controlling its agenda.

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