Milk strike called off

Industrial action at Malta Dairy Products was lifted yesterday morning after the basis of an agreement was achieved on a financial package, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin said.

However, the MDP said the agreement was subject to the approval of its board of directors, who still had to analyse the union's proposals.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi acted as an intermediary to bring the two sides back to the discussion table after the strike went into its third day yesterday.

UHM parastatal section secretary Joe Grillo said Dr Gonzi's mediation led to a 90-minute conciliation meeting between MDP, the union and the director of works, when an acceptable basis for agreement was reached.

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

Mr Grillo said everything had been sorted out with the exception of a few minor clauses in the collective agreement.

"We have reached the basis of an agreement that both sides can live with," he said.

"We explained the details of the financial package that we have agreed upon to the workers who welcomed the news with enthusiasm," he said.

Once the strike was called off the employees were back at work at noon and all milk products are expected to be on the shelves this morning.

"We are very grateful to Dr Gonzi and the police who were present at the MDP during the strike and who acted very professionally," Mr Grillo said.

The strike was called in the early hours of Monday morning after disagreement over the financial aspect of the collective agreement, which expired 13 months ago. The union had been negotiating a new one for the past eight months.

The MDP had argued that were it to bow to the union's demands it would have to raise the price of milk - a litre of milk sells for 26 cents, while the pint size containers sell for 16 cents.

The MDP yesterday reiterated that increasing the price of milk was not an option.