Milk shortages as strike continues

Consumers again had to contend with shortages of fresh milk yesterday as the strike by Malta Dairy Products employees entered its second day with no resolution in sight.

The indefinite strike was called by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin in a dispute over the collective agreement.

Union parastatal section secretary Joe Grillo said that although they were working round the clock to find a solution, the industrial action would not be withdrawn until workers "get what they deserve".

The employees yesterday went to work as usual to take part in a sit-in strike, but were prevented from entering the premises by the company's management, Mr Grillo said.

Today, MDP is only distributing litre-sized containers and no skimmed milk.

The union is questioning whether this work, which is being carried out by management and farmers who sell the milk to MDP, is in compliance with the usual hygiene conditions.

The MDP yesterday vehemently denied a rumour that the company's cottage cheese, which is produced in Gozo, contained unpasteurised milk.

"It would be insane and irresponsible to allow unpasteurised products on the market to the detriment of the public's health," the MDP said.

The MDP insisted that its products were all being manufactured under the usual quality controls after rigorous analysis.

It also said that officials from the departments of health and food and veterinary services had yesterday inspected the factory and found that everything was in order.

MDP is run by the farmers' cooperative KPH, while the government has a 30 per cent share in the company.

The collective agreement expired 13 months ago and the union has been negotiating a new one for the past eight months.

The MDP is insisting that the price of milk will have to rise if it accedes to the union's request for a wage increase for employees, who currently earn an average of Lm75 per week.

At the moment a litre of milk sells for 26 cents and half-litre containers sell for 16 cents.