Workers Protest Sale of China Coca-Cola Bottling Plants

(Beijing) — Workers at three Chinese Coca-Cola bottling factories protested on Wednesday the pending sale of their company to local buyers amid concern over the potential for layoffs and other unfair treatment under new ownership.

Global beverage giant Coca-Cola Co. announced last week it will sell its China bottling operations for $1 billion as it attempts to place more emphasis on brand-building and marketing, while letting local franchising partners handle more of the day-to-day operations such as bottling.