Pickups resume but milk crisis could escalate, says UWU

THE good news is that milk pickups are back to normal after hundreds of thousands of litres were tipped into farm effluent ponds on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.

The bad news is that strike action by members of the United Workers Union, the key organisation representing dairy company employees and farm workers, could return by as early as Friday next week.

And it could “escalate”.

That’s the word from UWU National Secretary Tim Kennedy speaking on ABC Country Hour on Friday.

“There’s still quite a bit of work to be done but the positive thing is that we will be sitting down to talk with the four main processors next week to see how we can reach an agreement,” Mr Kennedy said.

However, when pressed by Country Hour host Warwick Long, Mr Kennedy said his members were of a mind to strike again and only needed to give three working days’ notice of protected action which could resume as early as next Friday.

He said if strike action did resume, it was likely to escalate.

The fact that strike action is still hanging over their heads was as much a concern for local dairy farmers, including those who lost milk this week, as the prospect of tipping out more milk.

“If they continue on with this, it ultimately comes out of the milk price affecting the local community and the whole industry,” said Leongatha South milk producer and farmer representative Ben Vagg.

“If they want to do something about the future of the industry and about attracting new and younger people into dairy farming, they should stop taking industrial action during peak flow.”

Mr Vagg lost 3000 litres of milk on Wednesday, half of his daily production, when he couldn’t be picked up by the time the cows were due to be milked again.

“They fitted us in on the first day, but couldn’t get to us on Wednesday,” said Ben.

“We saved some of the milk for calf feed but lost the rest. It’s disappointing,” he said.

Mr Vagg had 7000 litres cooling in a brimful vat late on Thursday afternoon but was fortunate enough to have it picked up prior to the start of a delayed evening milking.

Dozens of other dairy farmers across the region lost more.

Ashley Zuidema at Yanakie tipped out 5500 litres on Tuesday but received a pick-up on Wednesday.

“They’ve said we’re going to get paid for it, but it’s pretty hard to watch all your hard work going down the drain, into the effluent pond, which is another problem.

“Too much milk is not good for the aerobic system of the effluent dam.”

Mr Zuidema praised the efforts taken by the processors to pick up the milk.

“The guy they had picking up our milk was a driver from northern Victoria who had no idea how the pick-up system here worked but he had a supply services officer with him and they did it that way.

“He was just jumping in and out of trucks when he got back to the factory and managed to do an extra run that way.”

But Mr Zuidema said a number of other suppliers in the Yanakie area also missed out on one or more pick-ups.

Leigh Roberts at Binginwarri near Yarram told ABC Radio on Thursday that he had tipped two vat-fulls of milk, each 7250 litres, down the drain on Tuesday and Wednesday, and knew of a number of others locally who had done likewise.

“They’ve told us we’ll get paid but you never know until you’ve got the money in your pocket.”

He said there was also the concern that it could happen again, if the issues about pay and conditions weren’t resolved.

Now the UWU National Secretary has confirmed that’s on the agenda.

His members are seeking three years of 5% pay rises, while the processors have reportedly offered 10% over three years.

The UWU members are also seeking an improvement to conditions, including additional family leave.

“The position the workers have taken is a very reasonable one. It doesn’t even amount to a cost-of-living increase,” Mr Kennedy said. Confirming that members at various sites had already voted to take further protected industrial action if no resolution was reached in talks early next week.

Asked about the impact on suppliers and consumers of the loss of hundreds of thousands of litres of milk, Mr Kennedy said the action wasn’t taken lightly.

“We live in the same communities but the processors can take this issue off the table by stepping up here to what is a very reasonable request.

“If further action is needed next week, this disruption to the supply chain will be escalated. If things break down, action can happen within three working days… as early as this time next week.”

He said some sites were clearly “more frustrated and angry” with their employers than others which could lead to more widespread action at these sites.”

He indicated that while the companies had been able to make arrangements to get much of the milk collected last time, it wouldn’t be quite so easy next time.

Dairy Farmers Victoria expressed concern last week about the ramifications of the strike on the dairy supply chain, when 1400 dairy workers went off the job for 48 hours, but said they “respect the rights of the unions and processors to periodically review both pay and conditions.

“Indeed, as dairy farmers we undertake similar processors on an annual basis,” a DFV spokesperson said, but noted the widespread impact such action would have, especially if it became protracted.

“They hurt the farmers, they hurt the consumers and they hurt the environment,” they said while imploring all parties to return to the negotiating table.

“Our cows will continue to produce milk and our consumer family will continue to need milk and we need to be ready to supply that milk.”