Students ask UC Berkeley to reconsider lucrative agreement with Coca-Cola

When: Friday, February 11, 12pm to 1pm

Where: University of California Office of the President
1111 Franklin St., Oakland, CA (outside)

Students Organizing for Justice in the Americas(SOJA) in conjunction with other UC Berkeley students will be hosting a memorial for the eight
workers of Colombian Coca Cola bottling facilities who were murdered as a result of their attempted union activities. Events include a candlelight vigil, distribution of informational fliers, and visual displays commemorating the murdered workers. The memorial will take place directly outside the building while representatives from SOJA as well as members of the UC Code of Conduct Committee for Trading and
Licensees meet with Coca Cola representatives to discuss the future of UC Berkeley's contract with Coca Cola Co.

Coke's Colombian Bottling Partners are colluding with violent right-wing paramilitaries to suppress workers' rights. The result: 8 Colombian Coke union leaders have been murdered. Countless more have endured harassment and intimidation. On August 22, 2003, union leader Juan Carlos Galvis narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. A lawsuit has been filed in US Courts by the workers' union, SINALTRAINAL.

UC Berkeley's partnership with Coca-Cola violates a 4-year-old Code of Conduct for UC Berkeley's Trademark licensees, which bans exploitative working conditions.

SOJA has been a leader in social justice issues on the Berkeley campus throughout its 20-year history. The group is currently at the forefront of the growing international student and community movement against Coke's abuses.

Some previous coverage on Indybay:
Oakland Action at Coke Regional Headquarters on March 23
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/04/1677262.php

Coca Cola Workers In Colombia: Hunger Strike Ends, Dialogue Begins
http://www.indybay.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=1907&category_id=19

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