Give Coca-Cola the red card

international | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Tuesday October 31, 2006 19:06

by Lefty Type - Boycott Killer Coke

Colombia Solidarity calls for the GAA to end its sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland has been associated with the International rules series since 1998, in a deal that involves an investment of over €1mn per year. Workers at the bottling plant on the Longmile Road are free from intimidation by right-wing death squads, unlike their Colombian counterparts, 8 of whom have been murdered since 1989, due to union organising activities. Hundreds of other Coke workers have been tortured, kidnapped and/or illegally detained by violent paramilitaries, often working closely with plant managements.

In response to these crimes, SINALTRAINAL; the union representing bottlers in Colombia; has called for an international boycott of all Coca-Cola products. In Ireland the campaign has widespread support, having been kicked into touch by UCDSU 3 years ago, with a number of other colleges and unions subsequently joining the boycott.

Boycott Killer Coke recognises the great progress that has been made in Ireland so far, and thus calls on the GAA to review its sponsorship with Coca-Cola, with a view to ending the current deal. A great deal of publicity and exposure is generated by the International rules series, as is demonstrated by the sell out audiences for this years tests. In the true spirit of fair play, we would call on the GAA to join our boycott.

Members of the Boycott Killer Coke campaign will be leafleting before the game in Croke Park this Sunday, November 5th. Meet at Ulster Bank, opposite the Big Tree pub on Dorset Street at 12.00. For more information, or to get involved with the campaign, check out the following links, or else contact Cian on 086 2866631/Kevin on 087 2255513

http://KillerCoke.bebo.com
http://www.lasc.ie/activities/campaigns/lasc-campaigns/....html
http://www.labour.ie/youth/campaigns/index/200409081251....html
http://www.killercoke.org

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Comments (4 of 4)

Why the gaa?

by Dr Nick

Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:27

Why target just the gaa?
What about Leinsters and the Irish rugby teams sponsership deal with powerade and the largest rugby competition in Dublin, the powerade schools cup?

Dr Nick

by Pushkin

Wed Nov 01, 2006 13:15

Not every group have the abilities and logistics to do everything at once. Seeing as you are so eager, why dont you start a campaign against Rugby?

Excellent suggestion Nick

by Jim

Wed Nov 01, 2006 13:16

The GAA are been targetted now cos the Aussie compromise rules are on now.... but the campaign is calling for all sporting organisations, public bodies, educational institutions to refuse sponsorship from Killer Coke until there is an end to the harrassment of trade unionists who work for Coke in Colombia.

Thanks for your help Nick - hope to see you on Sunday.

Boycott Coke

by Caobhin

Wed Nov 01, 2006 16:03

Rugby is a minority sport and fairly irrelevant to most, bar a few fee-paying schools, ascendancy remnants, D4 and Limerick so no point in going after the small fry.

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Give Coca-Cola the red card

Comments (4 of 4)