PEPSI! - bastards

[boddhisatva <kbevans@xxxxxxxxx>]

        Here is more stuff about Pepsi (owners of Kentucky Fried Chicken,
Pizaa Hut, Frito-Lay snacks, Taco Bell, and make 7-Up, Dr. Pepper, etc.)



        This is a bit dated but interesting none the less found it via a
search
for Pepsi on Alta Vista


Guatemala: Pepsi's corporate criminality
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> From: E.D.Brown@xxxxxxxxx (Ed Brown)
> To: E.D.Brown@xxxxxxxxx
> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 93 16:09:30 bst
>
> In article <1993Sep20.064231.26220@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, you wrote:
> >
> > /** reg.guatemala: 112.0 **/
> > ** Topic: URGENT: Pepsi Cola Alert **
> > ** Written  9:43 am  Sep  8, 1993 by newsdesk in cdp:reg.guatemala **
> > From: IGC News Desk
> > Subject: URGENT: Pepsi Cola Alert
> >
> > From: iuf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: URGENT ACTION PEPSI
> >
> > FROM: IUF, GENEVA
> > TO:   UNIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS
> > DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 1993
> >
> > Concerns: Pepsi Cola Guatemala
> >
> > On August 19, workers at Embotelladora La Mariposa S.A. (the
> > PepsiCo franchise in Guatemala) filed a legal document that
> > requested respect for the dignity of workers, freedom of
> > association and labour stability.  On the same day they gave a
> > copy of the constitution of their union, the Sindicato de
> > Trabajadores Embotelladora La Mariposa SA ("SITRAEMSA") to the
> > General Inspectorate of Labour.  These are the normal steps to
> > begin the process of union recognition.
> >
> > The reaction of the company's owners and management was severe:
> >
> > August 21 - No union information was allowed into the plant.
> >
> > August 23 - A management communique blamed the foundation of the
> > union on Coca-Cola and its salesmen.  Since then management hhas
> > issued 4-5 bulletins a day, denouncing various unions including
> > the IUF affiliate FESTRAS and the IUF itself.
> >
> > On the other hand, the mass media has refused all access to
> > statements from the union, perhaps because Pepsi is a major
> > advertiser.
> >
> > August 23 - Individuals in vehicles without license plates and
> > with polarized windows began to put the IUF office in Guatemala
> > under surveillance.
> >
> > August 24 - Raul Rodriguez, a member of the union executive, was
> > kidnapped for six hours, threatened with death and forced to sign
> > a withdrawal from employment and from the union.  Union general
> > secretary Fabio Mazariegas and two other workers (one of them,
> > Adan Rodriguez, was imprisoned in the factory for 36 hours), were
> > threatened with death by two of the company's owners.
> >
> > August 31 - Crisanto Garcia was held for five hours by one of the
> > owners and the Manager of Human Resources, and threatened until
> > he signed his resignation.
> >
> > September 2 - During the night armed men came to the home of
> > Crisanto Garcia, threatening his wife.
> >
> > Members of other unions leafletting the Pepsi Cola plant in
> > support are being photographed by uniformed men and followed by
> > black vehicles with polarized windows.
> >
> > Salesmen from the Pepsi plant are being ordered to steal or
> > destroy at least 150 cases of Coca-Cola bottles weekly.  The
> > intention is probably to encourage confrontations between Pepsi
> > and Coke sellers, and thereby to weaken solidarity among their
> > unions.  The Coca-Cola franchise and the union that represents
> > its workers have decided to avoid being provoked into fights,
> > even if they witness such actions.
> >
> > Mariposa SA belongs to a family group controlled by the Castillo
> > brothers, who also control other beverage, food and finance
> > companies, and make up one of the most powerful groups in
> > Guatemala.  It has resisted unionization through a combination
> > of intimidation and "Solidarismo" (a form of company unionism).
> >
> > While the repressive actions of Pepsi franchise La Mariposa would
> > be alarming under any circumstances, they raise particular
> > concern in Guatemala.  We must only recall how many workers'
> > lives it cost to win the struggle to unionize the Coca Cola
> > franchise in Guatemala City.
> >
> > Therefore, we are asking for urgent action to safeguard not only
> > the new union, but the lives of its leaders and members. IUF
> > Regional Secretary Enildo Iglesias has sent protests to La
> > Mariposa and requested the Guatemalan government to intervene.
> > The IUF has faxed a letter to PepsiCo , a copy of which is
> > attached for your information.
> >
> > What Can be Done
> >
> > 1. Send (preferably by fax) a letter to Wayne Calloway, Board
> > Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, Inc.  This letter should hold
> > PepsiCo accountable for doing everything within its power to stop
> > the repressive actions of its franchise in Guatemala, including
> > the threat of withdrawing its license.
> >
> > Mr. Wayne Calloway, CEO
> > PepsiCo                         Fax: +1 914 253 2070
> > 700 Anderson Hill Rd.
> > Purchase, NY 10577 USA
> >
> > 2. Send (preferably by fax) a letter to Guatemalan President
> > Ramiro de Leon Carpio, requesting his urgent intervention.
> >
> > Lic. Ramiro de Leon Carpio
> > President of Guatemala          Fax: +5022 519702
> > Palacio Nacional
> > Guatemala, Guatemala
> >
> > 3. Please send copies to the IUF, Rampe du Pont-Rouge 8, CH-1213
> > Petit Lancy, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 793 22 38, Phone +41 22 793
> > 22 33.
> >
> > We will keep you informed of all important developments.
> >
> >
> >                                     Dan Gallin
> >                                   General Secretary
> >
> > The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,
> > Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) is an
> > international federation of 226 trade unions in 90 countries,
> > representing a combined membership of 2.3 million workers.
> >
> >
> > COPY OF LETTER
> >
> > Mr. Wayne Calloway, CEO
> > PepsiCo
> > 700 Anderson Hill Rd.
> > Purchase, NY 10577 USA                  Fax: +1 914 253 2070
> >
> > Dear Mr. Calloway,
> >
> > The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,
> > Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) and the
> > 226 affiliated unions it represents are very concerned with
> > developments at your franchise in Guatemala, Embotelladora La
> > Mariposa S.A.
> >
> > Since workers have initiated legal procedures to begin the
> > formation of their union on August 19, the owners of the
> > franchise have engaged in various acts of intimidation and
> > repression.   These are reported to include:
> >
> > (1) threatening the closure of the plant if unionization
> > continues.
> >
> > (2) interrogating and threatening employees.  It is reported that
> > the managers Carlos Monge and Roy Wever Sempe have threatened
> > union members Fabio Fernandez Mazariegos, Sergio Gonzalez and
> > Adan Raul Rodriquez.  Other workers were taken to the residence
> > of owner Castillo, and threatened at gunpoint with death if they
> > did not resign their jobs.  An employee who was made to resign
> > received 30,000 quetzals (US$ 5,300) in compensation.
> >
> > (3) Our Guatemala office has been under surveillance by
> > paramilitary groups since August 23.
> >
> > We are aware that Embotelladora Mariposa is a franchise of
> > PepsiCo and not a direct subsidiary, but we also know what
> > actions of this kind mean in a country like Guatemala.
> > Consequently, in the event the necessary measures to correct this
> > situation are not taken, including the possibility of withdrawing
> > the Pepsi franchise from Mariposa, we will also hold PepsiCo
> > responsible for what might happen.
> >
> > Therefore we ask you to take, with the urgency that the situation
> > demands, whatever corrective action is required to guarantee the
> > lives of the employees at La Mariposa, as well as their rights
> > to work and form a union.
> >
> > We look forward to your prompt response.
> >
> >                                        Yours very truly,
> >
> >
> >                                         Dan Gallin
> >                                       General Secretary





peace





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