“Sold out – Natrel dairy product”. Consumers have encountered empty milk refrigerators in recent days due to the strike by 250 employees at the Saint-Laurent factory in Montreal, launched by the Agropur union last Monday.
“Certain formats or products will not be available on shelves during the strike,” Mylène Dupéré, vice president of communications at Agropur, confirmed to the Journal on Friday.
In the last few hours, Le Journal found that refrigerators were often empty in several supermarkets, including a Metro in Repentigny.
Photo David Descoteaux
Supermarkets in Blainville also stated “products may be in limited quantities or out of stock.”
Photo Mathieu Boulay
“It’s a big headache.”
At the Grocery Retailers Association (ADA), many members have expressed concerns in recent days as the holiday season approaches.
“The run-up to Christmas is a big headache for retailers. It creates uncertainty,” her spokesman Samuel Bouchard tells the Journal.
To avoid milk shortages, Agropur says it has a “contingency plan” to process its milk in other factories. The dairy giant also says it “prioritizes” its products.
“We will take all necessary measures to maintain the best possible service for our customers in this situation,” assured Mylène Dupéré, but refrained from quantifying the volume for competitive reasons.
It is the managers on duty who ensure that the milk comes out of the silos and sends it to other factories in the group to avoid wastage. The collective agreement for employees at the Agropur Saint-Laurent plant expired in September.
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Originally posted 2023-12-17 00:20:36.