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From: dsi@unccvax.UUCP (Dataspan Inc)
Newsgroups: net.misc.coke
Subject: Re: Coke Clothes
Message-ID: <264@unccvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Aug-85 09:30:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: unccvax.264
Posted: Fri Aug  9 09:30:27 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 08:23:35 EDT
References: <697@mcnc.mcnc.UUCP>
Organization: UNC-Charlotte
Lines: 36


     Here in Charlotte, the 'Coke Clothes' fracas has been the ** LEAD ** story
on channel 9 just about every night this week.  The President of Coca-Cola, 
Consolidated (the 5th largest bottler in the US) has been pretty cool about it
so far, but the ** MEDIA ** have been pumping this story up but good.

     About 2 miles up the road here from DSI is Cabarrus County, NC, which has
the highest unemployment in N.C. (about 17 percent). Their local economy used
to be the production of yarn and finished textiles, until plants left and right
started closing about 4 years ago.  In addition, Burlington Industries (whose
corporate HQ is in Greensboro, NC) has been closing plants throughout central
NC and VA.  SO?? So, the media goes out and finds some unemployed millworker,
tells them that CocaCola Clothes aren't made in the USA (although they are or
were advertised by Belk Corporation as 'all american') and lets the poor guy
give a overdramatic sob story about 'Ooohhhh, Coca Cola is all American, and
they shouldn't screw poor millworkers over like this.' Several of the smaller
mills still in business offered their CEO's up to tell the world that Coke
would be removed from their plants' breakrooms until Coke repented.


     Yes, I think that the American textile industry has some really big
problems.  However, the press have embellished this story and played it to
the hilt.  You didn't see Bill Klopman whining and moaning on regional TV
asking all his employees to boycott 'Flashdance' when those pre-ripped shirts
(made in the Far East) came out, did you?


     This morning, the president of Coca Cola Consolidated was on the radio
telling people that we 'do not encourage our employees or anyone else to 
purchase foreign-made Coca Cola clothes.'  

     Those of you from Pennsylvania to Florida might want to try WBT (1110
kHz) after about 8:30 pm a couple of nights next week. The local talk show
has been pretty hot with discussion of this matter.

-dya-