1000s of Spain Coca Cola staff protest

Thousands of workers from Coca Cola bottling factories in Spain have staged a protest against the company’s plan to close some of its plants in the southwestern European country and lay off workers.

Crowds estimated to be about 2,000 marched in the Spanish capital city of Madrid and the eastern city of Alicante on Sunday to show their anger at the recent controversial decision made by Coca Cola’s Spanish subsidiary.

Coca-Cola Iberian Partners announced on January 22 that it would shutter four of its 11 plants in about three weeks in the northwestern Asturias region, the Balearic Islands, near Madrid and in Alicante.

However, the move is expected to affect some 1,250 jobs, with 750 employees being laid off and 500 others relocated.

Wearing red caps and vests with the logo of the giant US drinks company, the protesters chanted “No to the closures.”

The company insists that the closures are needed to improve efficiency, but workers describe the layoffs as unjustified since the company is making a profit.

Workers at another plant in the southern Madrid suburb of Fuenlabrada have been on strike since Friday in protest at the company’s decision.