Cheese makers threaten lockout if milk prices go up

CHEESE manufacturers are threatening to stage a three-day lockout if a proposed increase in the price of milk goes ahead. Under the lockout, cheese bosses would permit no milk to be delivered to cheese factories.

The possibility of a milk price increase has been under discussion for some time. The milk producers association has asked for a four cent increase per litre, which would hike the current 35 cent price to 39 cents, while the price advisory commission has suggested an increase of 1.5 cents. But the cheese producers say they will only buy milk at the current price.

No official decision will be made until tomorrow at the earliest, however, as the matter is now in the hands of the Commerce Ministry and Minister Kyriacos Christofi, who is returning from abroad today. The eventual decision is expected in Friday’s government gazette.

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