2018 Alabama Coca-Cola strike

In 2017, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United took over multiple Coca-Cola production and distribution facilities from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated in the states of Alabama and Mississippi.[1][2] Shortly after this consolidation, United announced plans to hire additional workers.[2] However, in 2018 members of Teamsters Local 991, which represented United workers in the region, voiced disapproval of United's plans to cut the starting pay for new hires by between $5 and $7 an hour.[2][3][note 1] Union members alleged that the pay discrepancy would hurt higher-wage earners in the company, as United would be more inclined to hire lower-paid workers to replace them.[2] Tensions between the union and company were exacerbated on July 15, when employment contracts with union members expired.[5] Following this, employees continued to work under a three-week extension.[5] The union expressed concern over increased costs for insurance through the company.[4] On August 9, the union announced a strike at four locations: Robertsdale, Leroy, and Mobile in Alabama, and Ocean Springs in Mississippi.[5] A previous strike involving Local 991 and Consolidated had occurred about ten years earlier.[2]

The strike began at 2:30 am on August 9, with the union alleging unfair labor practices from the company.[5] Over 200 members[note 2] of Local 991 ceased work at three distribution plants in Alabama and one in Mississippi.[2] Picketing occurred along U.S. Route 90 in Tillmans Corner, Alabama and Alabama State Route 104 in Baldwin County, Alabama.[3] On August 11, the union president reported that they had not heard from the company since August 8, with the company claiming to be communicating through mediators.[6] On August 13, union and company representatives met with a Federal mediator in an attempt to settle the dispute.[7] On August 20, the strike ended without a contract agreement, with union members returning to work at 5 am that day.[8] According to union members, a contract agreement seemed likely, and negotiations through a mediator were continuing.[4]