Colombian workers support U.S. universities' ban on Coca-Cola

[norml]

Colombian workers support U.S. universities' ban on Coca-Cola
1/2/2006, 7:03 p.m. ET
By JAVIER BAENA
The Associated Press


BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's main labor group voiced support Monday for U.S. universities that have banned the sale of Coca-Cola while allegations of workers' abuses here were being investigated.

"Coca-Cola is a frequent violator of union rights and that's why several universities in the United States have decided to protest their conduct," said Fabio Arias, vice president of Colombia's CUT trade union confederation, which represents 623 unions and 550,000 workers.

The University of Michigan last week joined New York University and at least 10 other U.S. universities when it banned Coca-Cola products to protest conditions at a local bottling plant.

The company is also blamed for causing environmental damage in India.

Sinaltrainal, a trade union affiliate representing 2,300 food-and-beverage workers, has for years accused Coca-Cola of conspiring with right-wing paramilitary groups to harass and harm workers at a plant in Carepa, 270 miles northeast of Bogota.

Sinaltrainal said Coca-Cola Femsa, a local bottler for the world's largest beverage company, was complicit in the death of nine plant workers between 1990 and 2002.


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http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1136246946244600.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

[RagingInMiami]

1. Que viva mi paisanos!

[AgadorSparticus]

2. Good for them. I've weened my husband off that shit now. It took me

2 yrs to do so and now he drinks loads of water. I tell you, that stuff is SO addictive.