OVER a hundred employees at Coca Cola's Edmonton plant have voted to strike over pay.

Unite's 110 members at the plant, in Nobel Road, voted by 8 to 1 to reject the company's offer of a two per cent pay increase.‬‪

Now 81 per cent of workers have backed a call for strike action in a bid to force the hand of the soft drinks giant, who were informed of the results of the ballot on Friday.

The plant makes about two million bottles every 24 hours.

Unite’s regional officer, Wayne King said the deal amounted to "poverty pay."

He said: "With inflation touching five per cent, the offer by this highly profitable global company is unrealistic and, given the massive profits of this corporate, frankly insulting.

"Coca-Cola is in no way suffering during the recession yet it wants to force its workers, in one of the world's most expensive cities, to accept a poverty pay deal.

"Further, the company has failed to meaningfully negotiate throughout the pay process. Small wonder then that the overwhelming majority of our members have voted for industrial action. Unless Coca-Cola responds with an improved offer, then a strike seems inevitable."‬‪‬‪

Coca Cola employs more than 4,000 people nationally.

A statement from Coca Cola Enterprises said: "To date we have not received any formal notification of any intended action.

"We are extremely disappointed in Unite's actions and we believe that the pay offer made in the current climate is fair. We remain open to continuing a dialogue with all our employees and with the unions in an effort to reach a constructive outcome."

It added that it would take steps to ensure that its services were not disrupted.

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