The United Nation’s International Labor Organization (ILO) has released its report, “Evaluation Mission Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia.”
“The assessment was a thorough, independent evaluation,” Greg Tewksbury, interim associate vice president for finance and University treasurer says of the report release Oct. 13. “Among the conclusions was recognition of The Coca-Cola Company’s efforts to prohibit child labor, ensure equality and non-discrimination, and provide health and safety programs.
“Additionally, the University is pleased that Coca-Cola and its bottling plants will address the ILO report recommendations as they continue to examine labor practices in their Colombia bottling plants.”
In 2004 the U-M group Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality lodged a formal complaint against Coca-Cola, with regard to its business practices in India and Colombia.
The University requested independent third party evaluation of labor relations and workers’ rights practices at Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia and the environmental impact of bottling plants in India.
The non-governmental agency The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) released its evaluation of the India bottling plants in January 2008.
The receipt of this second report concludes the University’s evaluation of Coca-Cola business practices. The University will continue to maintain a vendor relationship with the Coca-Cola Company.
For more information please see: http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/coke.html.
