UHM calls strike at dairy products plant

A shortage of fresh milk products is expected over the coming days after the Union Haddiema Maghqudin called an indefinite strike at the milk plant over a failure to reach accord on the collective agreement with Malta Dairy Products.

The UHM ordered the strike at 2 a.m. yesterday, disrupting the distribution of Benna milk cartons and fresh milk products and leaving most consumers without their morning essentials.

A conciliation meeting yesterday morning, aimed as a last-ditch attempt to resolve the situation, also broke down.

"The strike will not be lifted until we feel there is a basis for agreement," union parastatal section secretary Joe Grillo said.

Mr Grillo said the collective agreement expired 13 months ago and the union, which represents all employees, had been negotiating for the past eight months.

The dispute is over the financial package. Although both sides had shifted slightly from their original proposals, there is now deadlock.

"We had informed MDP that we would resort to industrial action if we did not receive an answer by last Monday (yesterday week). We gave the company a week's grace and finally decided to order the strike," Mr Grillo said.

All the employees, about 125, were ordered not to carry out any work at 2 a.m., a crucial hour when the distributors start collecting milk products from the MDP.

Although most shops remained without milk, some products were actually distributed after company directors and management rolled up their sleeves to do the job.

Mr Grillo said that at one point the health and safety inspectors had to be called on site after farmers, who had just delivered the milk in their farm clothes and boots, entered restricted areas which require high hygiene standards.

MDP said it regretted any inconvenience caused to consumers as a result of industrial action.

"The employees and their union have requested substantial increases in their wages. The company has made an offer which ultimately protects the interests of consumers by assuring that the price of milk does not go up."

MDP said when contacted that the employees had refused its offer and were standing firm on their "high financial demands".

"MDP feels that it is essential that in the current and developing market circumstances, the workers and the UHM understand - even in the best interests of the workers - that efficiency should come before unreasonable and inopportune increases," it said in a statement.