The president of the ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, yesterday said that the milk quota for 2006 would not be met if suppliers to the Glanbia/Lakeland Co-op areas did not "pass back a higher price to farmers".
An ICMSA statement, given to The Irish Times, said a five-point action programme was agreed at a special meeting of the officers of the milk suppliers' association representing the respective areas yesterday.
Farmers at the meeting "would not be prepared to suffer severe income cuts while management and workers continue to increase their income through national wage agreements and otherwise".
According to the ICMSA president, co-ops have a responsibility to pay a competitive price.
The meeting took place one week after the companies announced cuts of six cent per gallon.
"In the case of Glanbia, co-op employees who are on substantially more money than their farmer counterparts will receive another pay rise shortly, while the farmer suppliers - who actually own the co-op itself - will see their price cut and their incomes fall by up to 16 per cent per annum," said Mr Cahill.
"In the case of Lakelands, the cut will mean that the farmer suppliers will see their incomes cut by up to 19 per cent per annum. It is outrageously unfair and unjust, and the income situation for many farmers is becoming unbearable," he said.
