Over the last ten years the beverage industry in Alameda County has experienced significant growth. Local 70 now represents well over 600 members at Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Seven-Up. Through plant consolidation and organizing we expect to see these numbers continue to grow.

It has been a busy year in beverage. Contracts at all three companies expired. After lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiations, we have finalized new agreements at Pepsi and Coca-Cola and are beginning talks with Seven-Up.

At Pepsi our member's expectations were high. Pepsi Bottling Group is an aggressive, profitable company. We spent a lot of time reminding them that it's our members' hard work that gets the product on the shelf. The Union Negotiating Committee, comprised of Shop Stewards and Business Agent Lou Marchetti, successfully fought off the company's demands for part-timers and gutting the attendance policy. In mid August we presented a recommended offer to members that protected full time jobs and provided economic security. The five year agreement was ratified 79 to 73.

At Coca-Cola the issues at the table were much more intense. Health and welfare as well as seniority rights were the focus of the eighteen bargaining sessions. The company's solution to the health and welfare problem was to propose the company plan which provides no retiree coverage or Kaiser option. This was unacceptable. At the end, we were able to cut the co-pays by more than half while protecting the Teamster Managed Plan and keeping retiree coverage. “I've worked at Coke for seventeen years and have seen only four of my brothers retire from the company. This contract with retiree health and welfare and the expansion of seniority rights will change that and enable all of us to retire from Coke;” said shop steward Felix Martinez. In late August the 200 members who attended the ratification meeting voted 152 to 61 to accept the offer.