Coke sending a Heavy hitter to Dublin to counteract growth of 'Urban Legends'

by barry Fri Nov 07, 2003 14:35

Although CocaCola have recently been getting all the headlines in this part of the world in relation to paramilitary groups threatening and killing trade union activists, they're not the only western company who have been implicated.

Recently two executives at Nestle Colombia, Alvaro Javier Castano and Carlos Ramirez, publicly declared members of SINALTRAINAL(the Colombian Food and Drinks Workers Union) to be enemies of the company and "personae non gratae".

Amongst those attacked by the Nestle executives was Onofre Esquivel who on the 11 October found in his locker, inside the Nestle factory in Bugalagrande, a leaflet which proclaimed
"the AUC- United Self Defence Force of Colombia- Valle de Cauca Block- Political Cleaning Section warn ALFONSO ESPINOZA, ROGELIO SANCHEZ, ONOFRE ESQUIVEL and FREDY OCORO that as people opposed to political and economic change, and opposed to development, that they have been declared political targets of our organisation, and are under our surveillance. It is our duty as a political and armed organisation to protect and clean up Colombia. If these people carry on their opposition, you know what will happen"

Later that day, Onofre Esquivel informed Mr Jaime Torres, the head of security at Nestle Colombia, who verified the facts, took a copy of the threat and the next morning informed Mr Gustavo Grisales, the head of human resources for the company. The company has yet to respond.
SINALTRAINAL have requested that people condemn these threats and call on Nestle to gaurantee the safety of those threatened.
Please contact:
Doctor Álvaro Uribe Vélez,
Presidente de la República,
Cra. 8 n°.7-26,
Palacio de Nariño,
Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1) 566.20.71
e-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
and
Señor JEAN MARC DUVOISIN
Presidente del Área Bolivariana de Nestlé
Presidente de Nestlé de Colombia S.A
Transversal 18 No 96-41
Fax. 5237311 - 5219000 - 2190800
Email. Jean.marc.duvoisin@co.nestle.com

(see www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk)

by - Fri Nov 07, 2003 14:49

This morning the TAZ occupied Arts centre social space "Les Naus" in Barcelona launched "Fotut 2004" [see http://barcelona.indymedia.org
Les Naus is awaiting the bailiffs since this morning, the long await is becoming a shorter wait.
http://barcelona.indymedia.org
http://www.fotut2004.org/
http://www.babymilkaction.org

by Micksey Doyler-begorrah Sat Nov 08, 2003 10:05

Has anyone noticed how Coke has recently made a starring performance in RTE's drama series Fair City ? In the show where the cast seem constantly engaged in drinking or arranging to meet in "McCoys for a drink" , Coke has made a sudden comeback. Particularly since the UCD debate began.

A whiskey and cola becomes a "Jameson and Coke" on Fair City. I don't believe any other such dramatisations internationally advertise named products. Is there something in the RTE code to prevent such product endorsment I wonder?

The air is thick with agendas around Montrose.

by angry liberal Sat Nov 08, 2003 11:05

This representative is from which union/organisation and represents who?Not i think the trade union SINAL TRAINAL.

by ec Sat Nov 08, 2003 11:49

He is coming to meet with SIPTU because coke has a plant here and the workers are represented by SIPTU.
Someone from the Union in Colombia is also seperately coming to Ireland in the next few days to talk in Derry, Belfast and UCD.

by ipsi Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:32

in which the good people of Barça and their pals will explain to everyone with a computer why these multi-national-corporations want to subvert the search for sustainable solutions to the crises brought by HyperCapitalist Exploitation.

this quote is translated from one of the plethora of new articles and groups which will work to repair the damage being done in the name of speculation, greed, hypocrisy and the €uro.
{"coca cola: they united money for G. Bush, enslaving kids (Pakistan 1998), really broke financial law (Philipines, 2000), murdered labour rights activists (Colòmbia, 2003), they discriminate racially (USA, 2000), they have systematically been implicated in institutional corruption in order to gain privelage (1998 – 2001), destructión of land lots of land take (Can Fenosa, 2003) for one example.}

€ = $
A nice new building where the richest in the world may do business is not a Forum.

by Lone gunman Sat Nov 08, 2003 14:46

Much better tasting INMHO. Or is there some problem with that?Along with McDonalds,Ford,GM,Levis,etc.In fact is there ANY American multi national company that the Left has no problem with?I would be intrested to know.

by Feelsgood Sat Nov 08, 2003 19:00

But they sold out to the man.

by IBMer Sat Nov 08, 2003 19:32

Cos they crack us up with every cutback, either its superfical or short sighted. And every year when they talk about 0% pay rises we just fall about laughing.

by hoca cola Sat Nov 08, 2003 19:36

the problem extends beyond brands. Its little to with 'quality' and 'taste' more to do with the 'system' to which they belong. Anyone that operates on the patterns of development and systems of production that perpetuates poverty and unsustainable inequality around the world needs a smack on the mouth, i reckon.

by Hoca Cola Sun Nov 09, 2003 03:23

Don't send me a link, please. I just want to understand how this pernicious system works.

by Angry Liberal Sun Nov 09, 2003 12:29

They don't make them poor theyy make them dead which is somewhat worse.Coca Cola completely control companies which are involved in a campaign which uses murder as one instruments.They want to crush the union SINAL TRAINAL.Coke refuse to improve security despite the fact that quite often the murders,tortures,kidnaps and intimidations happen inside their plants.

by hoca cola Sun Nov 09, 2003 12:45

i said perpetuating - there is a difference. You only need to look at where the money that is being generated by enterprises such as coca cola is going - is remaining in the country?. If you want to say that coca cola are providing jobs you have to address the types of jobs they are providing. Are they safe and secure jobs? not by the looks of things. This also puts comapnies such as coke in a position of opportunity where they can re-evaluate their practices to the benefit of the countries that they shift production to and away from

by analyst Sun Nov 09, 2003 17:24

Unless Dillon comes out now and gives a written guarentee that working hours will not be effected in the SU shops the referendum WILL be lost and Coke will be back in UCD.

by Seneschal Mon Nov 10, 2003 01:49

This "killer Coke" allegation is complete rubbish. Thousands of Trade Unionists have been killed in Colombia in the war between the left wing FARC coke dealers and right wing armed groups.

To say that Coca Cola Inc can possibly stop this happening is naive beyond belief.

by lish Mon Nov 10, 2003 14:46

All we do is give out contracts to the lowest bidders, discourage union activity because it impedes progress & cost-effectiveness & refute unprovable urbanly mythical allegations of human rights abuses & collusion with death squads.

These are not "our" factories or "our" workers. If the country they're in doesn't have laws that protect workers how is that our fault?

We have merely the responsibilities imposed on us by law and the court cases are still in progress.
In the meantime it's business as usual & quit picking on us. It's not like everyone isn't doing it.

by poor Wed Nov 12, 2003 19:20

it's only a pity there aren't more moderates on this site who could benifit from your words.

thank you