Coca-Cola, while making exceptional beverages, lacks the quality of being an ethical company in the community. An article posted on “Business Week” on February 27, 2010 helps support this fact.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-27/coca-cola-sued-in-u-s-by-guatemalans-over-anti-union-violence.html

The article states that Coca-Cola is being sued by Guatemalan workers who happen to encounter workers employed by a Coca-Cola owned company; these Coke representatives did not portray a good image. The Guatemalans claim to have suffered a “campaign of violence” by these workers on Coke owned bottling and processing plants, who allegedly make continuous threats to union-based workers in the area. When questioned, Coca-Cola claims to have no knowledge of complaint. While in court, Coke claims they hold only small shares in those companies and cannot control them; yet have assured the public that they inform their suppliers and bottlers to follow international human rights standards. If they hold only small shares, how are they able to inform the public that their suppliers are under control? First, it is unethical to threaten the lives, and the family lives of these union-based workers. Second, it is profoundly unethical of Coca-Cola to claim that they hold no power over these companies, while they are in fact (or were at the time of the incident) agents of the Coca Cola company. Coca-Cola needs to take control of their factories, and accept responsibility for the issue in which they are clearly wrong.