8/19/2005

Mr. Tom Barlow

President Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Coca-Cola Enterprises

Toronto Ontario Canada

Dear Mr. Barlow:

I would like to thank you for your response to my concerns about CCB/CCE excepting garments (ex. Coca-Cola golf shirts and PowerAde vests etc.) that are manufactured in Burma.  The letter forwarded to me from Mr. Blake Annable, CEO and Owner of Oceanic Trading Company Ltd did little to alleviate my dismay over finding made in Burma (Myanmar) tags on Coca-Cola apparel.

In Mr. Annable’s letter he states that “some of our outerwear is produced under contract though a manufacturing facility in Myanmar” however when I spoke with a customer service / human resource person from Oceanic Trading I was told that almost 70 % of their garments are from overseas. 

Mr. Annable also states that “Our quarterly inspection of the facility further insures that the quality control and labour standards are met” >From this statement I presume that these inspections are done by Oceanic Trading itself and not an independent organization.  There is no mention that theses inspections are conducted by an independent company.  As a long time employee and executive of Coca-Cola I am sure you know of the work that goes into preparing a market place and facility before a trade tour by a company executive.  If in fact these inspections are done internally, it leaves there merit suspect at best.  I also find it interesting that in Mr. Annable’s letter he puts quality control before labour standards.

It is stated in the letter that technicians applying for work undergo six months of training before being assigned to the production line and that the cost of the training is underwritten entirely by the factory.  However it does not state what these technician jobs are or if the persons are paid during the six months of training. 

Mr. Annable’s letter leaves me with more concerns and questions than it does with answers.  I find it interesting that large garment companies such as Eddie Bauer, Liz Claybourne and Levi Strauss for example refuse to do business in Burma in part because of concerns over human rights and the brutality of the military dictatorship.  Oceanic Trading must not share these same concerns or are satisfied these concerns are not valid.  On a positive note though I must commend Oceanic Trading for being a long standing contributor to World Vision Canada and other registered children support groups both in Canada and overseas.

The question I first asked remains the same, that being how ethical is it for Coca-Cola to except products made in a country that Coca-Cola refuses to even operate in?   

As I am sure you are aware The Coca-Cola Company and the IUF (International Union of Food and Allied Workers) now meet bi-annually in Atlanta and have recently signed a joint statement on workers rights.  I will be forwarding my concerns to the IUF with the hope that the issue of made in Burma Coca-Cola clothing may be on the agenda at the October 2005 meeting between CCC and the IUF. 

I look forward to ongoing discussions with you on this and other matters. 

Sincerely,

Dale Hauck

President Local 350 CAW/TCA

Chairman Canadian Soft Drink Workers Council

Edmonton Alberta Canada

Cc: Diane Hollingshead  CAW National Rep

      Lisa Olsen              CCB/CCE

      Carol Phillips           CAW International Department

      Tina Buonaugrio      RDWSU/ UFCW Massachusetts

      Tom Parks              CAW Local 385

      Paul Garver             IUF Switzerland

      Jane MacKay           CCB/CCE

      Beatriz Sosa            IUF Uruguay

      Carlos Garcia           CAW Local 126

      Brian Sabourin         New England Joint Board     

      Ken Lockhart           CAW International Department

      Mike Reuter            CAW National Rep