500 striking Coca-Cola employees in western Washington say they’ll return to work Tuesday

Striking Wash. Coca-Cola workers to return to work

SEATTLE — About 500 striking western Washington Coca-Cola employees who walked off the job Aug. 23 say they’ll return to work Tuesday as a goodwill gesture.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Washington spokesman Bob Phillips said Monday the company has accepted the employees’ offer to return.

Negotiations between the Washington Teamsters United and Coke are to resume Wednesday and Thursday. The union has alleged bad-faith bargaining is an issue. Phillips says Coke has negotiated in good faith but has its own issues in a slumping economy.

Contract talks have been under way since April. The employees’ contract expired May 15.

The union represents Coke workers in Aberdeen, Bellevue, Bremerton, Fife, Marysville and Tacoma.

Information from the Kitsap Sun, KOMO-TV