January 8, 2010

Tasmanian dairy farmers sign contract with National Foods, ending dispute

Tasmanian dairy farmers that supply to National Foods have signed a new milk price contract, formally ending a bitter four-month dispute. 

In late December, National Foods scrapped its old pricing model and promised to match or better the price of its main rival, Fonterra.

About 80 members of the Collective Bargaining Group signed the new contracts.

Richard Bovill, a spokesman for the group, said it is the conclusion to the many months of negotiations. He added that the farmers have held out for a better deal against a great amount of pressure and National Foods acknowledged that this is a group they have to negotiate with fairly.