Farmers picket Glanbia outlets in milk pricing row
The protestors, members of Fresh Milk Producers (FMP), staged the day-long demonstrations outside Glanbia trading branches in counties Meath, Dublin, Offaly, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford.
Glanbia said it was disappointed that farmers were protesting. It has recently been in negotiations with its liquid milk suppliers, represented by FMP, on the price issue. However, Glanbia's board has not made any decision to adjust the price it pays for liquid milk.
It said Glanbia Dairies pays one of the highest milk prices in Europe.
In Ireland, it pays liquid milk suppliers 30 cents over manufacturing price and approx 23 cents above Northern imports.
However, the FMP chairman Diarmuid Lally said farmer frustration with Glanbia is reaching breaking point. Relations have been seriously damaged by the company's intransigence.
"Following several attempts by FMP to reach a negotiated settlement, it is obvious that Glanbia Plc has scant regard for the committed suppliers who have for generations supplied liquid milk to the consumers of Ireland."
Mr Lally said Glanbia enjoy a privileged position in the market due to its dominant market share and control of some of the country's top grocery brand.
Mr Lally said farmers see their costs spiralling out of control and many are questioning their future in liquid milk, particularly when they see Glanbia's attitude as "profits first, farmers last."
"FMP is still prepared to sit down and reach an agreed resolution, but Glanbia will have to show a genuine willingness to negotiate instead of trying to impose a 10c/gal price cut by dicktat", he said.
Sinn Féin agriculture spokesperson Martin Ferris called on Glanbia to withdraw the threatened price cut and urged farmers to think strongly about the current situation.
Co-ops, which were formerly farmer owned, are transforming themselves into corporations in which the interests of working farmers are a lesser consideration than share values and profits, he said.
