News Article

Laid-off Coke Workers Rally For Fair Treatment

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

Published: March 05, 2000

ATLANTA -- About 500 former and current Coca-Cola employees and their supporters Saturday demanded fairer treatment of black workers by the world's largest soft drink company.

The much-anticipated rally at St. Philip AME. Church in Decatur came a day after Coca-Cola decided to allow African-Americans affected by a massive layoff to participate in a racial discrimination suit against the company without reducing severance benefits.

Larry Jones, a former human resources manager who was laid off and the rally's organizer, said the group was on the verge of calling a "nationwide boycott" of Coke products, partly because of the pressure to sign waivers relinquishing the right to sue the company.

Now that those boycott plans have been "postponed" --- although not abandoned --- Jones said he will work toward pressuring Coke to change its employment practices.

"It's a fundamental problem that the Coca-Cola Co. discriminates against blacks in the hiring, promotions, pay and performance evaluations," he said to repeated applause. Standing behind him on the church's front steps were about 100 supporters, including attorneys in the racial discrimination case against the company and representatives from local civil rights groups.

Without providing supporting evidence, Jones said blacks affected by the layoffs are leaving "in droves," and he said the exodus amounted to "ethnic cleansing. "

Cyrus Mehri, the lead plaintiffs' attorney in the racial discrimination lawsuit, said the plaintiffs are "more energized than ever. " Mehri also attended a meeting Jones held several weeks ago to discuss the waiver issue with Coke employees. It was after that meeting that Jones tried to persuade Coca-Cola President Jack Stahl to change the policy. Jones later found out he was on the layoff list.