Hong Kong’s Swire Coca-Cola reinstates fired lorry driver after union strike

Hong Kong’s Swire Coca-Cola has agreed to reinstate a fired lorry driver after workers staged a strike, with a union claiming the employee’s sacking had constituted an “unfair dismissal” and discrimination against one of its members.

The company’s decision followed a three-hour discussion with staff representatives on Friday night.

The Swire Beverages (HK) Employees General Union later called for members to return to work on Saturday and called off any further industrial action.

The union launched an indefinite strike on Friday and led more than 150 workers in staging a rally outside Swire Coca-Cola’s facility in Sha Tin to protest against the dismissal of the driver, who is an executive of the union.

According to local media, the driver was allegedly involved in a traffic accident in Tseung Kwan O last month and injured a woman as he reversed his lorry.

But the union claimed the driver was targeted because of his executive position.