Coca Cola Strike Hitting Home

The picket lines are still going strong outside of Coca Cola Consolidated in Tillman's Corner. Striking workers began their battle against the bottling giant almost two weeks ago.

Larry Evans has worked for the company over 30 years. Evans is one of 275 other workers in a bitter contract dispute with the company.
He says the company plans to freeze contributions to their pension plans and replace them with a 401(k).
But Evans, who is just two years away from retirement says it's too late to start over."There's some of us down there, people with more time than I've got, that we've stayed here all this time building this time up to go. And now it's like they're wanting to jerk a rug out from under our feet,"Said Evans.
If the company gets the contract it wants Evan's says he will lose almost $600 a month towards his retirement, he says he'll also have to wait an extra three years to start collecting it. "It's a young man's job, it really is and I just don't think I can stay that long and I want to go..and I'm ready,"Said Evans.

A spokesman for Coca Cola Consolidated tells News Five the company plans to offer workers a lump sum payment as compensation. Lauren Steele says the amount is based on how long an employee has worked for Coke, but he wouldn't give us a figure.
The company says they have also suspended striking workers health benefits. Two other plants, Gautier, Mississippi and Robertsdale, are also on strike.