PARIS - Two organizations representing milk producers, the APLI and the Rural Coordination, said Thursday that they planned to participate in the blocking operations of truckers' unions, to protest against milk prices.
Pascal Massol, President of the Association of Independent Dairy Producers (APLI), August 25, 2009 in Segre, in the West of France
"We are going to change tactics. We are going to block everything. We are discussing with the truck drivers," said Pascal Massol, the president of the Association of Independent Dairy Producers (APLI), at the microphone of France Bleu Périgord.
"We have enough to disrupt the Christmas holidays. It's unfortunate to get there, but it is untenable. We want to live from our profession," he explained.
"If by Sunday evening, we do not have a signal from the minister (Bruno Le Maire, editor's note) to engage in discussions with all milk producers, we will join the truckers," said to AFP François Lucas, president of the agricultural union Rural Coordination.
"It's a game that brings only worries to everyone but we are not left with a choice. Milk producers are dying economically", he added, referring to "a contribution of logistics "to truck drivers.
He described as "provocation" the current proposal, supported by the ministry, to see all the unions meet under the leadership of the National Federation of Milk Producers (FNPL, branch of the FNSEA). "It's a bit as if we mandated Bernard Thibault of the CGT to discuss on behalf of the government with the other unions", quipped Mr. Lucas.
In September, France and Europe had experienced a huge protest by dairy producers, dissatisfied with their selling prices.
The breeders demanded a minimum price between 350 and 400 euros per 1.000 liters (against 260 to 280 euros currently in France) and regulation of the sector to avoid price volatility.
In addition, the unions of some 500.000 road freight transport workers called a strike from Sunday evening, in particular to obtain increases in their wages and travel expenses.
Salary negotiations between employers and road transport unions came to a halt Wednesday despite the government's proposal to reduce the carbon tax of companies in the sector by 100 million euros in order to encourage them to make concessions to employees.
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