Swire Coca-Cola HK reinstates driver fired for accident following union strike

Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong has reinstated a truck driver dismissed for allegedly breaching internal regulations in a traffic accident, after workers protested against the company's original decision.

In a joint statement shared with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Swire Coca-Cola HK and the Swire Beverages (HK) Employees General Union (太古飲料(香港)職工總會) said that Swire Coca-Cola HK deeply regrets the disruption caused by the incident.

The company held some open and constructive dialogues with union representatives, leading to a mutual decision to resolve the matters. The union has agreed that its members will return to work.

“Moving forward, both parties will work together to promote and implement safety measures and training. As always, we are committed to delivering professional service to our customers,” the statement reads. 

This comes after a truck driver from Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong was involved in a traffic accident in August while reversing in Tseung Kwan O and hitting a pedestrian. On Thursday (4 September), the company dismissed the driver, with the dismissal taking effect immediately, citing the safety guideline of "not wearing a seatbelt while reversing”.

The dismissal has sparked dissatisfaction among the Swire Beverages (HK) Employees General Union, of which the affected truck driver is a member. While the union said the company seldom dismisses employees involved in traffic accidents, it organised an indefinite strike outside the company on Friday (5 September), with over a hundred employees showing their support, according to HK01 and HKFP.

The union demanded that the company reinstate the driver and commit to providing legal support for employees facing legal issues while on duty. It also requested the removal of telematics equipment used for monitoring within the fleet.

The union vice president told HK01 that a traffic accident involving a driver with 18 years of service resulted in a pedestrian's injury. The driver has not yet provided a statement, and no formal charges have been filed. However, the human resources department contacted the union, asking them to persuade the driver to resign, claiming the company believed he faced a high likelihood of conviction and would be dismissed without compensation.

He said that in the past, the company would only ask involved employees to refrain from driving or take on other duties after traffic accidents. However, this time, the company has "judged without a trial", dismissing the driver solely for violating internal safety guidelines, which he found highly inappropriate.

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