ATLANTA, May 23, 2005

More than 2,000 workers at plants in California and Connecticut that bottle Coca-Cola soft drinks went on strike Monday, just before the start of the summer season.

The workers, mostly production workers and delivery drivers, were in contract negotiations with Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the world's largest beverage bottler. The workers walked out over the company's proposal that they pay more for health benefits.

Chris Roos, the leader of Teamsters Local 1035 in East Hartford, Conn., said the strike was planned the week before Memorial Day to pressure the company to negotiate or jeopardize summer sales.
 

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