Caracas, Feb. 13 - Coca-Cola Femsa said in a press release that the labor dispute it faces in Venezuela dates back eight years, before the company established itself in the Andean nation, and asked the government to intervene to solve the conflict.
In a press release, Femsa said the labor dispute, which has blocked 13 distribution plants and a bottling plant, is being instigated by a group of workers who are demanding compensation as former company workers despite the fact that they only had a commercial relationship with the company.
The company said the picketers worked as distributors and carriers as many as 20 years ago.
"This group has turned to illegal activities to pressure the company and achieve its goals, which are illogical, such as the payment of $520 million in compensation," the press release said.
The activities are endangering the "supply of our products" to Venezuelan consumers and affecting the company's 8,000 workers, the press release stated.
"We're requesting that all the security forces of the government ... act immediately to free the plants that are being blocked illegally," the company added.