News Article

Coke Was Told In '95 Of Need For Diversity

The Wall Street Journal

Published: May 20, 1999

An internal report presented to Coca-Cola Co. Chairman M. Douglas Ivester more than three years ago recommended a number of initiatives to enhance diversity, including addressing "why there are so few African-Americans in certain areas and levels of the business. "

The document, dated December 1995, is significant because it indicates that Mr. Ivester, who was Coke's president at the time, was told of the need for greater diversity by senior black executives. The executives participated in a discussion group that led to the report and eight "preliminary recommendations. "

While the report acknowledges Coca-Cola's efforts to improve diversity, it also appears to address some issues contained in a racial-discrimination lawsuit filed by four current and former black employees nearly one month ago in federal court in Atlanta. The suit, which seeks class-action status, alleges widespread disparities between the company's white and black employees in terms of pay, promotions, performance evaluations and dismissals.

"We haven't seen the document, but it does sound like it may illustrate the problem of a glass ceiling and glass walls was brought to Mr. Ivester's attention as far back as 1995," said Cyrus Mehri, an attorney for the plaintiffs.