Area Coke employees protest proposed outsourcing
Date: 5/30/2012
May 30, 2012By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.comWEST 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.
