12 June, 2008 – The Venezuelan Government has offered to mediate in an industrial dispute that is damaging Coca-Cola's operations in the country.
Hugo Chavez’s government has stepped in after an argument flared up between a Coca-cola bottler and former drivers which has stopped Coke’s distribution in the South American country. Ex-contractors of the Mexican bottling company based in Venezuela have been blockading 26 distribution centres and four plants since the end of last week.
Some 11,000 former contractors allege Coca-cola FEMSA de Venezuela SA owes them money.
The government’s Labour Ministry has offered to help arbitrate the dispute after the country’s Supreme Court declared its negotiation efforts had been “exhausted”.