Oceanside Coca-Cola facility readies for union vote

Oceanside Coca-Cola facility readies for union vote While workers continue to be feted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a secret ballot of employees at an Oceanside Coca-Cola bottling and distribution center is set to be held Thursday to determine if the workers will unionize.
   Staff from the National Labor Relations board will conduct the vote and results are expected later Thursday evening.
   A simple majority vote by the less-than-80 eligible workers at the facility will decide the issue. Employees at the facility that transferred from unionized Coca-Cola facilities retain their union representation and benefits, and are not eligible to vote in Thursday's ballot.
   On Tuesday, Teamsters representatives served food and soft drinks to workers outside the facility, located about 40 miles north of San Diego, trying to drum up support for a 'yes' vote on unionizing. The facility, which is owned by Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Southern California, opened on Jan. 22 as a non-union workplace.
   The facility's operators said while they are not encouraging employees to vote for the union, they recognize the workers' right to vote on the issue.
   “We respect the right of employees to form unions, or not to form unions, and employees have the choice whether or not they want to be represented by a union,” Bob Phillips, a Coca-Cola Bottling Co. spokesman told the North County Times. “We believe it’s a choice best made by employees in a secret ballot election.”