The Coke Machine: The Dirty Truth Behind the World's Favorite Soft Drink
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Page 265 spelling out the protections for workers: Ed Potter, interview by the author; The Coca-Cola Company, 2006 Corporate Responsibility Review; The Coca-Cola Company “Workplace Rights Policy,” http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/pdf/workplace_rights_policy.pdf.
Page 266 a supposedly independent group: Cal Safety Compliance Corporation (CSCC) for The Coca-Cola Company, “Workplace Assessments in Colombia,” 2005; Russ Childrey, vice president of CSCC, interview by the author.
Page 266 denying responsibility for the violence in Colombia: Author notes of shareholder meeting; Michael Blanding, “The Case Against Coke,” The Nation, April 13, 2006.
Page 266 “felt more like a student protest rally”: “Flat Coke,” Financial Times (London), April 20, 2005.
Page 266 real negotiations began after the meeting: Potter and Romero, interviews by the author.
Page 266 Coke was soon setting its own rules: Notes from September 9, 2005, commission meeting by anonymous student.
Page 266 The students dismissed those demands: “How NYU Chose Colombia over Coke,” BusinessWeek, Online Extra, January 17, 2006, http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_04/b3968078.htm.
Page 267 The university issued an ultimatum: Jacob Gershman, “University Senate at NYU Threatens to Oust Coca-Cola from Campus,” Sun (New York), November 7, 2005.
Page 267 NYU . . . would begin removing Coke from campus: Patrick Cole, “NYU Bans Coca-Cola Products,” Bloomberg News, December 9, 2005.
Page 267 “Certainly if there was any wrongdoing”: Caroline Wilbert, “A Surprising Critic of Coke,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 28, 2006.
Page 267 new country: Turkey: Ali Riza Küçükosmanoğlu, president of Nakliyat-İş trade union, interview by the author; Erol Türedi, et al. v. The Coca-Cola Company, et al., United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 05-CV-9635 (2005) (hereafter Türedi v. Coke).
Page 268 Coke had nothing to do with it: The Coca-Cola Company statement, “Lawsuit Regarding Protest in Turkey,” November 15, 2005; Potter, interview by the author.
Page 268 “the flipside of being a big brand”: Kenneth Hein, “Advertising: Big Ban on Campus for Coke Products,” Brandweek, December 12, 2005.
Page 268 the union hadn’t first exhausted its remedies: Türedi v. Coke, Decision and Order Granting Motion to Dismiss (39); Notice of Appeal (42).
Page 268 “investigate and evaluate”: Donald R. Knauss, President, Coca-Cola North America, to Tim Slottow, Executive Vice President and CFO, University of Michigan, April 10, 2006.
Page 268 more conciliatory approach to negotiations . . . continued to throw cold water: “Why Does the IUF Attack SINALTRAINAL,” http://www.killercoke.org/iufsinal.htm; “The Facts: The Coca-Cola Company and Columbia,” The Coca-Cola Company press release, January 25, 2006; “Joint Coca-Cola and IUF Statement,” March 15, 2005, http://www.iufdocuments.org/www/documents/coca-cola/jtstate-e.pdf.
Page 268 The anti-Coke campaign immediately cried foul: “University of Michigan Falls Prey to Another Coca-Cola PR Scam,” Campaign to Stop Killer Coke news release, April 17, 2006.
Page 269 “There are 640 people”: John J. Miller, “Fizzes and Fizzles,” National Review, June 16, 2006.
Page 269 less of an explanation: Potter, interview by the author.
Page 269 “assessment of current working conditions”: “University of Michigan Falls Prey to Another Coca-Cola PR Scam.”
Page 269 “We have a document”: Videocast, The Coca-Cola Company, Annual Meeting of Stockholders, April 19, 2006, http://events.streamlogics.com/pmtv/coke/apr19-06/auditorium/index.asp.
Page 269 “My message to you”: Videocast, The Coca-Cola Company, Annual Meeting of Stockholders, April 19, 2006, http://events.streamlogics.com/pmtv/coke/apr19-06/auditorium/index.asp.
Page 269 activists raised red flags: Amit Srivastava, India Resource Center press release, “Coca-Cola Funded Group Investigates Coca-Cola in India,” April 16, 2007.
Page 269 listed Coca-Cola as a sponsor: Confirmed from TERI website, April 16, 2006, www.teriin.org (accessed through Internet Archive, www.archive.org).
Page 269 had been paid by Coke: Confirmed by Ibrahim Rehman, Director, Social Transformation Division, The Energy and Resources Institute, in interview by the author.
Page 269 most responsible companies: Confirmed by Ritu Kumar, “Human Face of Corporates,” Times of India, December 24, 2001.
Page 269 student campaign had “stalled”: David Teather, “Has Coke Become the Next McDonald’s?” Guardian, August 18, 2006.
Page 270 indifference, if not contempt: Order of Clarification as to Plaintiffs SINALTRAINAL and Juan Carlos Galvis (233), Order Granting Motion to Quash Attempted Service of Process (234), Order Reiterating Stay (237), SINALTRAINAL v. Coke.
Page 270 “If you didn’t know any better”: Status conference transcript, June 6, 2006.
Page 270 “unwarranted international fishing expeditions”: Consolidated Omnibus Order Dismissing the Cases for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction (322), SINALTRAINAL v. Coke.
Page 270 “We hope this decision”: Duane D. Stanford, “Lawsuit vs. Coke Bottlers Tossed; Group Representing Colombian Workers May Appeal Ruling,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution , October 4, 2006.
Page 270 denying the union proper discovery: Appellants’ Opening Brief (1), SINALTRAINAL, et al. v. The Coca-Cola Company, et al., on Appeal from the Decision and Final Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Case No. 06-15851-HH (hereafter SINALTRAINAL v. Coke Appeal).
Page 270 “Put aside Colombia, Coca-Cola”: Terry Collingsworth, interview by the author.
Page 271 engaged a retired judge: Judge Daniel Weinstein (ret.), biography, http://www.jamsadr.com/weinstein/.
Page 271 call off the dogs: In re: TCCC’s [The Coca-Cola Company’s] Reply Brief, in Support of Motion for Sanctions and Related Relief, February 12, 2008. The documents and e-mail exchanges cited below are taken from exhibits to this brief.
Page 271 resumed criticizing Coke: Faith Gay to Judge Daniel Weinstein, re: TCCC Motion for Sanctions In re SINALTRAINAL Mediation, December 21, 2006.
Page 271 both sides refrain from public statements: Judge Daniel Weinstein e-mail to Faith Gay, Terry Collingsworth, et al., September 27, 2006.
Page 272 trolled Web and newspaper reports: Linda Spencer e-mails, October 2, 4, 9, and 27, 2006.
Page 272 they would have to resign from the union: Draft, “Colombia Settlement Agreement,” October 13, 2006.
Page 273 “Every request we made for”: Faith Gay to Terry Collingsworth, November 22, 2006.
Page 273 $120,000 in penalties: Order for Sanctions, January 8, 2007.
Page 273 “Look, don’t waste my time”: Terry Collingsworth, interview by the author.
Page 273 into the “lions’ den”: Duban Velez, secretary-treasurer of SINALTRAINAL, and Romero, interviews by the author.
Page 274 whatever the union leaders decided: Rogers, interview by the author.
Page 274 “We don’t intend to give up our fight”: The Coca-Cola Case, directed by Germán Gutiérrez and Carmen Garcia (Montreal: Cinema Politica and the National Film Board of Canada, 2009).
Page 274 a personal money grab: Romero, interview by the author.
Page 274 a bum deal: Romero, interview by the author.
Page 274 Finally Kovalik walked out: Romero, interview by the author.
Page 274 Collingsworth proposed . . . a breakthrough: Velez and Romero, interviews by the author.
Page 275 their elation turned to dismay: Velez, interview by the author.
Page 275 “It may be time”: Ed Potter e-mail to Terry Collingsworth, April 22, 2007.
Page 275 contract at the University of Minnesota: Amit Srivastava, interview by the author; Jeff Shelman, “U Stands to Get Big Boost from Coke Contract,” Star Tribune (Minneapolis), April 3, 2008; Ahnalese Rushmann, “U Renews Aramark, Coca-Cola Contracts,” Minnesota Daily, April 14, 2008.<
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Page 275 “When you do something”: Rogers, interview by the author.
Page 276 “ensur[e] that the Killer Coke Campaign”: Draft Colombia Settlement Agreement, October 13, 2007.
Page 276 “Ladies and Gentlemen of The Coca-Cola Company”: Letter from Javier Correa to The Coca-Cola Company, September 14, 2007.
Page 276 filing a complaint: SINALTRAINAL, “SINALTRAINAL Files Complaint Before the ILO,” press release, September 28, 2007.
Page 276 “cause irreparable damage” . . . another fine: Faith Gay e-mail to Terry Collingsworth, September 24, 2007; Motion for Injunctive Relief and Sanctions in Order to Permit Parties to Hold Final Settlement Talks, October 15, 2007.
Page 276 told Weinstein that the union was pulling out: Terry Collingsworth to Judge Daniel Weinstein re: Joint Motion to Terminate Term Sheet, Response to Order to Show Cause, and Cross Motion for Sanctions, January 29, 2008.
Page 277 released a devastating report: India Resource Center, “Coca-Cola Continues Environmental Abuses in India,” press release, June 4, 2007; India Resource Center, “Community Protests Coca-Cola Plant in India,” press release, October 25, 2007.
Page 277 announced it was shuttering its doors: Letter from Brindavan Bottlers Limited to Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, October 27, 2007; India Resource Center, “Coca-Cola Plant Shut Down in India,” press release, August 14, 2008.
Page 277 with the TERI report: TERI report.
Page 278 “Enough is enough”: India Resource Center, “Coca-Cola’s Own Report Implicates Company for Abuses in India,” press release, March 13, 2008.
Page 278 “community engagement framework”: Jeff Seabright, Vice President, Environment and Water Resources, The Coca-Cola Company, to Tim Slottow, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, University of Michigan.
Page 278 “The easiest thing would be to shut down”: Amelia Gentleman, “Coca-Cola Urged to Shut Down an Indian Plant to Save Water,” New York Times, January 16, 2008.
Page 278 “dilapidated condition”: TERI report.
Page 278 the surprising reason that TERI found no pesticides: The University of Michigan Dispute Review Board, memorandum to Tim Slottow re “Complaint Investigation and Resolution Recommendation Regarding SOLE’s Allegations Against the Coca-Cola Company,” June 13, 2005; Kelly Fraser, “Coke Cleared in India Investigation,” Michigan Daily, January 15, 2008.
Page 279 much-vaunted ILO report: “Report: Evaluation Mission, Coca-Cola Bottling Plants in Colombia (June 30-July 11, 2008),” International Labour Organization, Geneva, October 3, 2008 (hereafter ILO report).
Page 279 The ILO reserved its highest criticism: ILO report, 44-48.
Page 279 never what the IUF had asked Coke to do: Ron Oswald, general secretary, International Union of Food and Allied Workers, interview by the author.
Page 280 “We said right from the beginning”: Kari Tapiola, interview by the author.
Page 280 “I think there is a little dancing”: Potter, interview by the author.
Page 280 The university senate held off the vote: Arielle Milkman, “Coke Ban Vote Pushed to Feb.,” Washington Square News, December 1, 2008.
Page 281 “We really do not let go of these conversations”: Potter, interview by the author.
Page 282 close defeat, twenty-eight to twenty-two: Sergio Hernandez, “Coke Ban Lifted,” Washington Square News, February 5, 2009.
Page 283 Though he began to work . . . work stoppages or slowdowns: José Armando Palacios, interview by the author; José Armando Palacios asylum petition, June 19, 2006; Summons and Complaint, February 25, 2010, José Armando Palacios, et al. v. The Coca-Cola Company, et al., Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Case No. 10102514 (hereafter Palacios v. Coke).
Page 283 started receiving threats: Palacios, interview by the author; asylum petition; Palacios v. Coke.
Page 283 did sign a statement with Palacios: Ministerio Público, República de Guatemala, undated document.
Page 283 working the graveyard shift . . . waited to be killed: Palacios, interview by the author; asylum petition; Palacios v. Coke.
Page 283 “totally damaging” to the company: Memorandum from Eduardo García to Colonel Efraín Aguirre, undated.
Page 284 the bottler fired him . . . The union protested: Palacios, interview by the author; asylum petition; Palacios v. Coke; “Petition to Remove Guatemala from the List of Beneficiary Developing Countries Under the Generalized System of Preferences,” submitted by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and U.S./Labor Education in the Americas Project (US/LEAP), June 15, 2005.
Page 284 been in contact with Ed Potter: Ron Oswald e-mail, December 3, 2005.
Page 284 Oswald says that he was not involved: Ron Oswald, interview by the author.
Page 284 Coke Atlanta would fund a hefty “protection package”: Stephen Coats e-mail to Bob Perillo, January 26, 2006, referring to protection offer by Stan Gacek, Virtus Advisors.
Page 284 killing him right in front of Palacios: Palacios interview; asylum petition.
Page 285 “approached by a certain D.C.-based lawyer”: Ron Oswald e-mails to Bob Perillo, January 29 and February 2, 2006.
Page 285 arranged a meeting at a hotel: Rodrigo Romero e-mail to Bob Perillo, February 1, 2006.
Page 285 to confirm he offered money to Palacios: Rodrigo Romero e-mails to Bob Perillo, February 6 and 10, 2006.
Page 285 filed in New York Supreme Court in February 2010: Summons and Complaint, Palacios v. Coke.
Page 286 “The author describes”: Potter, interview by the author.
Page 288 “too vague and conclusory”: Opinion, SINALTRAINAL v. Coke Appeal, August 11, 2009.
Page 289 “We’d like to start with”: The Coca-Cola Company, Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 2009, notes by the author.
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