Boycott Coca Cola

[Pogue]

Should we support this boycott? A number of unions have said we shouldn't because the workers rely on their jobs to survive and so a boycott would not be a good idea. Others have said we should

What would be the rational, revolutionary socialist conclusion? Should we boycott Coca Cola or not?

[Killfacer]

Do it if you want, but it's a completely pointless exercise. It will have no effect on them whatsoever and most people who do boycott it will be people who don't drink it much anyway.

[FreeFocus]

I rarely drink soda anyway, it's garbage.

Coca Cola smashes unions in poor countries and assassinates labor leaders. There seems to be a little worker consciousness (http://www.beveragedaily.com/Financial/Union-threatens-strikes-at-Coca-Cola) in terms of the union that represents Coca Cola workers, but unsurprisingly they mentioned nothing about Coca Cola's poor labor standards and treatment of workers abroad.

[Kassad]

Well, I suppose you could, but that should be the least important aspect of the struggle. We should unionize, organize and demand workers rights by advocating a revolutionary system of emancipation of the proletariat. Corporate tyranny is a symptom, not the disease. Capitalism itself is the disease and we should attack the disease, not just the symptoms. Revolution and workers liberation is the only cure.

[Pogue]

The point is, Kassad, when they unionise they get tortured and murdered.

[Kassad]

The point is, Kassad, when they unionise they get tortured and murdered.

So, instead, they should sit back and make meager wages under improper living standards? I mean, it's a double-edged sword. That's a main reason I advocate a workers party and collective of revolutionaries that can organize to stand up to stop these kinds of atrocities.

[Dr Mindbender]

I find the problem with coca cola is that they own so many varieties of soft drink and beverage its very difficult to boycott them. Here they even own some fruit juice and spring water brands ffs. You have to keep your eye out for the logo and it's often very subtle.
:cursing:

[Rangi]

Political action through consumer choice must be the safest of all options.

[Dr Mindbender]

Buy Pepsi instead.
:p

joking.

[Pogue]

So, instead, they should sit back and make meager wages under improper living standards? I mean, it's a double-edged sword. That's a main reason I advocate a workers party and collective of revolutionaries that can organize to stand up to stop these kinds of atrocities.


Please, just read before making posts, just, please, READ for once.

You said we should unionise them. I said the point is when they try to unionise they get tortured and killed. Just read, and then make coherent arguments, for fucks sake.

[Kassad]

Please, just read before making posts, just, please, READ for once.

You said we should unionise them. I said the point is when they try to unionise they get tortured and killed. Just read, and then make coherent arguments, for fucks sake.

You're a very sad, sad person, aren't you? I said that forming an educational revolutionary organization to protest and resist such actions, they would become rarer. The oppression of workers by Coca-Cola and all other corporations is a product of capitalism and, apparently, you'd like the working class to just sit back and accept half-reforms and oppression because of potential threats. Hell, if you're going to be killed for unionizing, maybe it's time for a new job. Maybe? Do I need to dumb this down more for you?

[Dr Mindbender]

Hell, if you're going to be killed for unionizing, maybe it's time for a new job. Maybe? Do I need to dumb this down more for you?

Yes, because jobs grow on trees don't they? :rolleyes:

Especially in developing countries like Colombia.

[Sarah Palin]

There's an official boycott? I've been doing it since June. But nothing has really come of it...

[Invincible Summer]

I find the problem with coca cola is that they own so many varieties of soft drink and beverage its very difficult to boycott them. Here they even own some fruit juice and spring water brands ffs. You have to keep your eye out for the logo and it's often very subtle.
:cursing:

Don't buy bottled water... it's such a scam.

[Kassad]

Yes, because jobs grow on trees don't they? :rolleyes:

Especially in developing countries like Colombia.

You're going to insist that working for Coca-Cola is the only job possible in Colombia? It's just a massive strip of land, dominated by the soda hegemony that is Coca-Cola? Attempt to find a new job?... Get tortured... Attempt to find a new job?... Get...

[Rangi]

But Coke tastes so good.

[Q]

Boycots don't work. If effective (and that's a big if) the only ones that'll get hurt are the coca cola workers that'll be sacked because of it.

I think consumer boycots in general are pretty reactionary as they sadle up the problems to the workers, not the bosses. This is not something socialists should propagate.

[OneNamedNameLess]

Boycots don't work. If effective (and that's a big if) the only ones that'll get hurt are the coca cola workers that'll be sacked because of it.

I think consumer boycots in general are pretty reactionary as they sadle up the problems to the workers, not the bosses. This is not something socialists should propagate.

Sorry Q, but I disagree with your claim that boycotting doesn't work.

Mass boycotts were very effective in the fight against apartheid in South Africa.

If carried out appropriately it can work.

Kassad, I think you made some good points. The problem is however, that as HLVS said, unionising has been ineffective as. Coca-Cola have the muscle to destroy the unions and have been efficient in crushing workers movements in the past. We can't on the other hand, sit around and wait for the glorious revolution :rolleyes: This would have to be a global revolution or it would be impossible to tackle the company.

So what does everyone suggest we do other than a boycott?

[Dr Mindbender]

You're going to insist that working for Coca-Cola is the only job possible in Colombia? It's just a massive strip of land, dominated by the soda hegemony that is Coca-Cola? Attempt to find a new job?... Get tortured... Attempt to find a new job?... Get...

My point is that the coca cola company probably provide one of the main sources of employment that are ready to most workers on demand. As in any scarcity society, Coca cola in Colombia is able to exploit job shortages as with any other dwindling resource. The strips of land that you refer to are most likely owned by petit beourgioise farmers that can't afford to hire any more hands what with the economic crisis.

[Dr Mindbender]

So what does everyone suggest we do other than a boycott?

Blocking roads usually gets a lot of press. You could have a sit down round the gates of coca cola factories and their distributors.

[Random Precision]

I think that the lot of us deciding to boycott Coke will have no effect whatsoever. Boycotts have to be large and concentrated to make an impact. On the other hand, there is a campaign in the United States that targets its efforts on getting institutions to drop Coke. They came to my university a few months ago, and the student government voted for it, but unfortunately the Dean vetoed it when it got to the next level. But I think this is the sort of thing where boycotts could be effective.

http://www.killercoke.org

[Q]

Sorry Q, but I disagree with your claim that boycotting doesn't work.

Mass boycotts were very effective in the fight against apartheid in South Africa.

If carried out appropriately it can work.
Yes, the myth that boycotts defeated apartheid is very popular among the left for some reason. Of course what actually defeated apartheid were the mass movements that the white minority could no longer control. If they didn't move to abolish apartheid, revolution would have struck them.

But yeah, it is typical that you only reply to my first part of the post and not to the important point that I make about boycotts being reactionary.


So what does everyone suggest we do other than a boycott?
The only way forward is to organise workers. Only that can break the repression of the coca cola ceo's.

[OneNamedNameLess]

Yes, the myth that boycotts defeated apartheid is very popular among the left for some reason. Of course what actually defeated apartheid were the mass movements that the white minority could no longer control. If they didn't move to abolish apartheid, revolution would have struck them.

But yeah, it is typical that you only reply to my first part of the post and not to the important point that I make about boycotts being reactionary.


The only way forward is to organise workers. Only that can break the repression of the coca cola ceo's.

Jesus, I didn't say they defeated apartheid, I said they were effective and should have added that they did a lot of damage to the economy there, therefore pressuring the government further.

Secondly,the second part of your post stated that boycotts are reactionary. That was not what I had an issue with. I was only saying in the most respectful manner possible that I believe they can work.

Thankyou for your lovely response:

"But yeah, it is typical that you only reply to my first part of the post" :D

Ulster Socialist, I agree with what you are saying but direct action has been tried by Indian workers who have been met with police brutality.

So far, I think that the campaign described by Random Precision seems the most effective option.

What about acts of vandalism and terrorism :)

Just joking.

[Sarah Palin]

Blocking roads usually gets a lot of press. You could have a sit down round the gates of coca cola factories and their distributors.

Well if your going to block roads and all that stuff, I'd rather do it for something like Nike

[Q]

Jesus, I didn't say they defeated apartheid, I said they were effective and should have added that they did a lot of damage to the economy there, therefore pressuring the government further.
Well, it is a popular myth on the left. The Mandelites for example are currently propagating a boycott against products from Israel. The SWP (in the Netherlands anyway) are doing the same.


Secondly,the second part of your post stated that boycotts are reactionary. That was not what I had an issue with. I was only saying in the most respectful manner possible that I believe they can work.
Sorry, but what the fuck? You don't care that a successful boycott means that workers will be sacked? You don't care you're using a petty-bourgeois logic by denying that the targeted country also has a class society? You don't care that you hereby drive workers into the hands of their reactionary government?

[ellipsis]

I think that the lot of us deciding to boycott Coke will have no effect whatsoever. Boycotts have to be large and concentrated to make an impact. On the other hand, there is a campaign in the United States that targets its efforts on getting institutions to drop Coke. They came to my university a few months ago, and the student government voted for it, but unfortunately the Dean vetoed it when it got to the next level. But I think this is the sort of thing where boycotts could be effective.

http://www.killercoke.org

You should boycott Coca-Cola because it is poison and its subsidiaries such as minute made and oodwalla because you shouldn't want to support corporations anymore than you have to. But now that I am thinking about it, am I really sure that honest tea and guyaki aren't owned by coke or Yumfoods/pepsico? I am not. I work at a health food store and I can tell you that alot of the products that the store carries, you know heady organic fair trade stuff, is produced by large food conglomerates such as kraft and cadburry.

At my former college, the students organized a campus wide referendum on boycotting both Wal-Mart and Coke while I was a student. Both passed and coke products are no longer sold on campus and student groups can no longer buy things at walmart for their group and have the school reimbursed. Granted that I went to a small school but I would think that the symbolic nature of making such a statement was more powerful than any loss of revenue for the companies.

I remember reading about Harvard(?) boycotting pepsi because of their actions in Asia (forget which country, in SE asia for sure) and getting some result. I know that is REALLY vauge but the book I was reading used it as an example of "transnational civil society." In my paper I argued that it was hardly transnational as it was American students using an American university's buying power to change an American company. more international than anything else.

[Forward Union]

Well I personally don't support this boycot, although I did for two years with one or two exceptions.

But to boycott coca-cola and not pepsi is stupid. To boycott coca cola and pepsi but not, Cadburys, Ford, Nike, adidas, Fosters, Budwiser, Microsoft, Dell, or any other company is stupid etc. Esentially once you decide you wont buy things that are produced unethically you'll be living in a bender in glostershire with one pair of trousers made out of hemp.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

What people seem to be forgetting is that this is not some "ZOMG I feel unethical for drinking this" sort of liberal boycott. This boycott was called for by the Colombian union that is composed of the workers getting intimidated and assassinated. This is a targeted campaign that ideally is designed to assist organizing efforts. Hopefully it can help to stop coke from shooting our comrades. Mind you there's plenty else we can do, but labor boycotts are damn well fucking traditional amongst the left and I mean the real working class left. There's a reason why in most nations labor unions are banned from initiating secondary boycotts, they work. And the bosses know it.

[Atlanta]

If you really want to help coke workers get better conditions why dont you get a job in a coke factory?

[Atlanta]

What people seem to be forgetting is that this is not some "ZOMG I feel unethical for drinking this" sort of liberal boycott. This boycott was called for by the Colombian union that is composed of the workers getting intimidated and assassinated. This is a targeted campaign that ideally is designed to assist organizing efforts. Hopefully it can help to stop coke from shooting our comrades. Mind you there's plenty else we can do, but labor boycotts are damn well fucking traditional amongst the left and I mean the real working class left. There's a reason why in most nations labor unions are banned from initiating secondary boycotts, they work. And the bosses know it.

well if its a call from the workers in that industry then it deserves support.

[eisidisirock]

What does coca-cola do that's so bad? Is it becouse they keep all the money?

[Forward Union]

What does coca-cola do that's so bad? Is it becouse they keep all the money?

Of course that is true. But they are also very anti-union, and have killed union organizers in Columbia.

[Political_Chucky]

I'm not agreeing with either or yet, but from what I hear cokes warehouse and merchandising jobs pay very well and are hard to get into. Many people from my work are either trying to go there or pepsi. Now if you wanna find some bullshit anti-union shit, look into Petco distribution

[Killfacer]

Of course that is true. But they are also very anti-union, and have killed union organizers in Columbia.

I wish to learn more about their union busting, could you perhaps direct me to a website?

[thinkerOFthoughts]

Don't buy bottled water... it's such a scam.
So true! I have always thought it to be quite pathetic that something like water is being sold.

[Q]

So true! I have always thought it to be quite pathetic that something like water is being sold.

It's quite brilliant actually. From a capitalist point of view of course.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

I wish to learn more about their union busting, could you perhaps direct me to a website?

http://killercoke.org/

Their most effective union busting tactic is to shoot the organizers. As one organizer says "It's like wearing a tombstone over your head."

[eisidisirock]

But, We cant! It tastes so goooooood... I'm coke addicted :crying:

[Killfacer]

http://killercoke.org/

Their most effective union busting tactic is to shoot the organizers. As one organizer says "It's like wearing a tombstone over your head."


Fuck me.

[jaxik]

We shouldnt boycott anything, living in michigan i can tell you that every piece of the american economy is important right now, if we want to survive as a nation of man, we must not force small pockets of the economy to bend to our will. it is stressed beyond the breaking point already. Id rather see the government of this nation bring down the economy, not the people of the nation. Hence why people scare me that you would think that way. Coca-cola is a multi billion dollar industry, dont be a fool...fool.

[RedBarrette]

Coke/pepsi what's the difference really? Yes, Coke kills a few more union leaders a year, but they still both are part of the corporate agenda that is destroying labour rights, environment, resources, culture, etc etc.

Not to mention what the class war won't do the chemicals they put into that stuff will.

Every time we engage in commerce it's a political decision, whether you buy childrens toys at walmart made by children, or you start thinking, you try to buy union, try to buy local, try to buy natural and handmade, soon you are growing tomatoes in your apartment and seeking softer ground. Live the revolution, use your choices and actions to make change....

peace and love man :redstar2000:

[Dr Mindbender]

After doing some research it appears that coca cola is also on the 'we support israel' blacklist.

Looks like I'll be drinking pepsi now to get my vegetable & caramel extract and caffeine fix from now.

[Killfacer]

After doing some research it appears that coca cola is also on the 'we support israel' blacklist.

Looks like I'll be drinking pepsi now to get my vegetable & caramel extract and caffeine fix from now.

Thats my second most important fix after crack.

[PRC-UTE]

boycott coke and support the FARC

[JimmyJazz]

Thats my second most important fix after crack.

Now that is an addiction that supports FARC. :lol:

[S.O.I]

we sould nationalize it instead because it is sooo gooood

[Emily]

I'm addicted to that stuff! I'm in for a bumpy ride on this one!:(

[LOLseph Stalin]

Yes, can we nationalize Coca-Cola like S.O.I said? I like the stuff too.

[Vahanian]

yeah definitely nationalize it it's way to addicting

[autotrophic]

I have a friend from the Philippines, and he's often told me about working conditions there. There are coca-cola bottle manufacturing plants there, and the wages that the workers get paid is complete shit. Like not even close enough to survive on. The only way my friend saved up enough money to move to Canada was from selling drugs and stealing from cops.

I personally don't think that boycotting a company like Coca-cola will have much of an effect, simply because it is such a huge corporation. The best way to end this kind of thing, in my opinion, is to support the exploited people in their own struggles and sending aid, because trust me, anything you give to them is really appreciated.

Of course, it isn't easy at all, because the police and government are corrupt as shit.

[Chicano Shamrock]

I didn't know there was a boycott even being thought about. I have been boycotting(if you can call it that) coca cola along with every other soda company since I was 14. Many years back I asked myself why I drank that junk when there was no reason to. Soda doesn't even quech your thirst. If you are really thirsty you can't really chug a coke down because it is so harsh.

I say instead of drinking soda get a nice glass of water, iced tea, OJ or a nice beer. Preferably Guiness.