By Ashley Geelan, with Alex Mitchell for AAP/Wires.
About 150 workers from Coke’s Northmead factory, in western Sydney, voted to take industrial action that the union said could impact the Christmas supply of the popular drink.
Electrical Trades Union NSW secretary Allen Hicks said the Coca-Cola workers would be better off at Pepsi.
“Despite doing the same work, workers in Coca-Cola’s Northmead factory are paid significantly lower than those working for Pepsi,” Mr Hicks said.
“Coca-Cola has a two-tiered wage system which sees some employees paid significantly less than their co-workers, even though they’re doing exactly the same job.”
In response, Coca-Cola Europacific said it was still negotiating with workers at the Northmead manufacturing and logistics site on a new enterprise agreement.
“We continue to take a constructive approach to negotiations and have proposed an EA that we believe offers rates that are competitive to the market and above the award wage with greater benefits,” a Coca-Cola spokeswoman said.
Coca-Cola workers also have issues with rostering and the company’s progression structure.
Mr Hicks said it was a new take on the age-old “Coke vs Pepsi” debate.
“All these workers want is to be paid in line with industry standards … when it comes to treating its employees with respect, Pepsi is winning hands down,” Mr Hicks said.
