Coca Cola workers in China go on strike over sale of bottling plants to local companies

Protests have erupted as more than 500 agitated employees of a Coca-Cola plant in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have gone on strike.

The employees’ anger has stemmed from the multinational giant’s decision to sell bottling operations to two local companies.

Fear has engulfed the workers that they may lose their jobs after one of the two companies, China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) take over the bottling operations, State-run 'Global Times' quoted them as saying.

The Coca-Cola Company on Saturday announced to restructure its bottling operations in China and concentrate the business in its two franchise partners, COFCO Coca-Cola Beverages Limited (a subsidiary of Chinese State-owned COFCO Corporation) and Swire Beverage Holdings Limited.

COFCO will own and operate 18 bottling plants, while Swire will own and operate 17, Xinhua news agency reported.

A worker surnamed Zhou said that the factory had already cut its employees from around 1,000 to 800 in 2016, and their concerns grew when COFCO sold a chocolate brand to 'Top Properties' due to fierce competition in January, which led to the shutdown of factories and retrenchment of large numbers of employees.

Employees in Chengdu in Sichuan Province and in northeast China also held similar protests, the report said.Photos posted online showed that protesters held banners in front of the factory's gate which read " worked hard for over 10 years but were sold secretly in a moment. We demand compensation."

The company said in an email sent to the employees on Tuesday that no changes will be made to employees' labour contracts, Zhou said.

Separately, two weeks after a Chinese firm purchased Sony Electronics Huanan, a Sony plant in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, its workers staged a "peaceful" protest.

Workers were informed about the purchase of the factory by a share-listed company Shenzhen O-film Tech Co. on November 7. Police were deployed to control agitated workers over renewal of contracts.

Shenzhen O-film Tech Co purchased the plant for USD 234 million on November 8, with the aim of expanding its operations in electronics manufacturing sectors, especially in camera business.

The Sony factory produced in-front camera for companies like Apple Inc.