Striking Coca-Cola workers in Spain have rejected a proposed layoffs deal by the US drinks giant, demanding it halt factory closures that they say threaten nearly 1,200 jobs.
A Friday deadline loomed for workers and bosses to reach a settlement, but unions said there would be none since the company had not called off the plant closures.
"We are going to keep up the fight. We are not going to come to any agreement while they are planning closures and layoffs," said Ramon Gorriz, one of the leaders of the CCOO labour union.
Workers have been on strike all month over plans to close four bottling factories, including one in Fuenlabrada in southern Madrid. They say the plan is unjustified since the plants are profitable.
"Coca-Cola is not 'the Real Thing' for Spanish society. It has shown that it is an exploitative multinational which is only after profits," Gorriz told a news conference.
CCOO and Spain's other main trade union, UGT, said the Spanish subsidiary Coca-Cola Iberian Partners had offered improved payoffs and relocation deals but still planned to close the plants.
They said the company's offer lowered the number of jobs threatened to 1,190 from 1,253 previously, but that the plan would still mean forced layoffs.
Coca-Cola Iberian Partners did not immediately respond to calls for comment on Thursday.
