New Contract at Lowell Coke (7/9/08)

A new three-year contract between RWDSU Local 513 and Coca-Cola in Lowell, Massachusetts, calls for significant wage and benefit increases. The contract was unanimously approved without a single "nay" vote.

The new contract at the bottling plant will see wages rising $2.10 per hour over three years, and a 20 percent increase in pension benefits. Health insurance benefits will remain the same with only a small increase in member contributions.

"Going into negotiations wages and protecting health care were the biggest priorities, and the contract achieved both of these things," said RWDSU New England Joint Board Rep. Tina Buonaugurio.