FORT WORTH -- Coca-Cola employees, by a vote of 215 to 191, rejected a bid to make their North Texas bottling plant the first corporate-owned unit in the South with a union, the National Labor Relations Board said Thursday.
In a statement, Coke called the defeat "a vote of confidence in our local management team who remain committed to working hard with all of their employees to ensure they merit the trust and confidence placed in them."Teamsters organizer Chris Rosell said union supporters, making their second organizing attempt at the north Fort Worth facility in less than two years, were outspent by Coke management, which held a series of mandatory meetings with employees during work hours. Last June, the supporters called off an election on the belief that they hadn't reached enough of the workers, Rosell said.At the last company meeting this week, officials announced that a popular supervisor had been promoted to head a work section, which was greeted roundly with applause, according to a recording of the event given to the Star-Telegram."We strive to maintain and enhance our direct relationship with our employees and while we respect our employees' right to choose whether or not to be represented by a union, we are pleased and grateful that employees decided to reaffirm their direct working relationship with the company," Coke's statement said."Barring any objections by the union, we expect the National Labor Relations Board will certify these results within 7 to 10 days," Coke said. "We hope the union will respect the employees' decision."The union is considering filing objections over alleged worker intimidation with the federal board, which oversaw the election, Rosell said. The Teamsters organizer did not elaborate."It was a close election, but consistent with other first-time union votes that are normally won by employers," said Doreen S. Davis, a Washington labor attorney with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. "It will be interesting to see if objections will be filed. Unions are more likely to file objections in close votes like this."Barry Shlachter, 817-390-7718Twitter: @bshlachterHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
