Union threatens strike at Coca Cola Luxembourg
Luxembourg subsidiary of drinks producer offered 'symbolic euro' despite massive profits, union says
Luxembourg's largest union is threatening to hit the local subsidiary of Coca Cola with a strike after wage talks failed, the OGBL said on Monday.
In November last year, the OGBL entered into talks to negotiate a new collective work agreement, but the company refused all union demands, including for a general pay rise, and instead offered a one-time bonus for 2023, which Luxembourg's largest union called "derisory" in a press release.
Further wage talks also failed as the company was only prepared to pay out a "symbolic euro" despite Coca Cola recording a profit of €276 million, the OGBL said.
"In this context, the OGBL, together with the employees, is ready to engage in all union actions necessary to succeed. Thus, union actions will kick off shortly," it said.
Coca Cola did not respond to a request for comment.
It would be the second high-profile strike in Luxembourg this month after Cargolux employees refused to work earlier this month.
Coca Cola Europacific Partners Luxembourg, the main company of the drinks empire registered in Luxembourg, made a profit of €276 million in 2022 of which €260 million came in form of a dividend a British subsidiary paid to the company, according to filings from July in the business register.
The company paid a €270 million dividend to its parent Bottling Holdings (Luxembourg) sarl, according to filings.
Coca Cola Europacific Partners Luxembourg had 71 full-time staff in 2022.
