Milma employees call off indefinite strike

An indefinite strike, launhched by employees of Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (KCMMFL) was called off today, bringing cheer to dairy farmers.
Employees, under the banner of various trade unions, had launched the state-wide strike from midnight yesterday to press for their demands, including pension and welfare fund.
The strike was withdrawn following a discussion between the Labour Commissioner and representatives of employees here this evening in which the government promised to look into the long-pending demands raised of workers.
The employees, however, said another round of discussion would be held on December 16 and they would be forced to resume the strike if a permanent solution was not found.

Meanwhile, KCMMF Ltd Chairman P T Gopala Kurup said issues of employees would be settled through discussions.
"The indefinite strike launched by employees was called off today. I am sure a permanent solution will emerge during the Dec 16 discussions," he said.

He also said the strike affected the dairy sector in Kerala as the cooperative dairy major Milma handles a major chunk of milk procurement and distribution in Kerala.
The government earlier urged the employees to call off the strike and said it would destroy the dairy sector.
Meanwhile, dairy farmers in Kozhikode and Palakkad districts were forced to pour away several litres of milk brought by them after Milma refused to procure it.