Clare hauliers picket Kerry Group

A GROUP of hauliers yesterday placed a picket on the headquarters of Kerry Group in Tralee over a row about contracts to draw milk from farms in Clare.

The 13 members of the Clare Milk Hauliers Association have held a long-term contract to bring milk from 700 farms from Clare to Kerry to processing plants in Charleville and Listowel.

The hauliers said they are protesting at a move by Kerry to put the milk haulage contract for Clare out to tender.

Spokesman for Clare hauliers Eugene Drennan said they want to have talks with Kerry about the situation: "Kerry had just invited three of our members to buy new trucks. To buy and fit out a truck costs in the region of €90,000."

He said they are still providing the collection service and would do so until April 1, when the contracts come up for renewal. Mr Drennan said: "If they want to get rid of us in 10 days' time, we cannot accept that and we are not just going to roll over."

He said if Kerry management doesn't agree to meet with them, the Clare hauliers would have "to get more active". He said their families had been involved in milk collection since travelling creameries in the 1950s.