Kent Union blocks Coke boycott
Fizzing Over | 31.01.2007 22:46 | Education | Globalisation | Workers' Movements | London | South Coast
Members of University of Kent Union voted against ending the near-monopoly on soft drinks held on campus by Coca-Cola at their AGM on Tuesday evening, and blocked moves to join the growing international boycott of the company, which is accused of human rights violations and environmental injustices.
Student activists argued that the company's behaviour doesn't fit with the union's new Environment and Ethics policy. The policy says the union will consider human rights and employment practice issues when evaluating their suppliers.
Coca-Cola has been attacked for its record on human rights, the environment and its attitude to employees of the company and its suppliers. The international boycott of the company is being supported by student and trade unions across Britain and North America. Recently, the University of Sussex Union switched suppliers following concern about Coca-Cola's record.
Coca-Cola has been accused of environmental and human rights misbehaviour in Columbia, India, El Salvador and Turkey.
But students rejected the motion by 126 votes to 72. On a campus where it is virtually impossible to buy any cola other than Coke opponents of the motion argued that it would limit students' choice, even though it would have brought in a wider range of colas, including more ethical options.
Coca-Cola and a range of other products manufactured by the company are supplied to Kent Union through the National Union of Students Services Limited (NUSSL). NUSSL aim to encourage Coca-Cola to improve its ways in a series of talks with the idea of 'constructive engagement' and claim to be making process. But they obviously haven't heard of 'blue-wash', when companies announce ethical sounding initiatives without any real commitment.
For more info see:
www.consciousconsumers.org.uk/cokefreecampus/
http://www.uksac.revolt.org/
http://www.waronwant.org/
http://www.killercoke.org/
Coca-Cola has been attacked for its record on human rights, the environment and its attitude to employees of the company and its suppliers. The international boycott of the company is being supported by student and trade unions across Britain and North America. Recently, the University of Sussex Union switched suppliers following concern about Coca-Cola's record.
Coca-Cola has been accused of environmental and human rights misbehaviour in Columbia, India, El Salvador and Turkey.
But students rejected the motion by 126 votes to 72. On a campus where it is virtually impossible to buy any cola other than Coke opponents of the motion argued that it would limit students' choice, even though it would have brought in a wider range of colas, including more ethical options.
Coca-Cola and a range of other products manufactured by the company are supplied to Kent Union through the National Union of Students Services Limited (NUSSL). NUSSL aim to encourage Coca-Cola to improve its ways in a series of talks with the idea of 'constructive engagement' and claim to be making process. But they obviously haven't heard of 'blue-wash', when companies announce ethical sounding initiatives without any real commitment.
For more info see:
www.consciousconsumers.org.uk/cokefreecampus/
http://www.uksac.revolt.org/ http://www.waronwant.org/ http://www.killercoke.org/
Fizzing Over
Comments
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Disgusting
01.02.2007 17:11
In the late 1960s, early 1970s, Kent was a very radical campus.
Obviously gone down hill since.
Keith
a torrid state of affairs
01.02.2007 18:43
Mr. Humph