Organizations call to boycott UHT milk from Suiza Dairy in support of workers’ strike

The Aguadilla plant is the only one in operation and is where UHT milk is produced.

By The STAR STAFF

Various union, political and social organizations called on Puerto Rican citizens on Monday to join the boycott against Suiza Dairy’s long-life UHT milk, in support of the workers of the General Central of Workers (CGT), who have been on strike for 41 days demanding an increase in the employer contribution to the medical plan.

“The Grupo Gloria conglomerate, owner of Suiza Dairy, has been petty by refusing to negotiate in good faith with the CGT workers to reach an agreement that meets their demands for improvements in their medical coverage. Faced with this intransigent attitude of these abusers, all these organizations have joined together to initiate an active boycott of Suiza Dairy’s UHT product while the strike continues. We demand that the employer sit down to negotiate in good faith,” said José Maldonado, president of the UIA and spokesperson for the union organizations, at a press conference.

In recent days, Puerto Rico Police arrested 17 protesters in front of the Suiza Dairy plant in San Juan. Among those arrested were José Adrián López Pacheco, president of the CGT, Scott Barbés Caminero, organizational secretary of the CGT, other members of the union and people in solidarity with other labor unions.

“The bosses and the government thought that with the arrests of the leadership they were going to stop the strike and the struggle at Suiza Dairy. Well, we want to let you know that you have achieved the opposite. Now more than ever, solidarity and support are being felt. The Suiza Dairy workers on strike are not alone and have the support of multiple sectors of the Puerto Rican people,” said Mercedes Martínez Padilla, president of the Puerto Rico Teachers Federation.

Currently, the plants in San Juan and Ponce are completely paralyzed due to the strike, with the only operational plant being that of Aguadilla, where UHT milk is produced. “It is precisely Suiza Dairy’s UHT milk that is the main product that we are going to be boycotting. Our call is for Puerto Rican families not to sponsor a product that belongs to scoundrels who do not care about the lives of workers and their families. These individuals constantly deceive workers when they call them to negotiate. We have to stop this abuse NOW,” said Ian Camilo Cintrón, MST spokesperson.

On July 24, at 10:00 in the morning, the arrested protesters will appear before the Court of First Instance in San Juan. “We urge all fellow union members to respond to this call for solidarity. We invite everyone who can to come together and be present to support our colleagues, who are being repressed for demanding better employment and salary conditions for workers,” concluded María del Mar Rosa Rodríguez, president of the APPU.

The boycott is signed by various organizations, including Agitarte, Puerto Rican Association of University Professors (APPU), Puerto Rican Workers’ Central (CPT), Feminist Collective in Construction, College of Social Work Professionals of PR, Socialist Democracy, EDUCAMOS, El Hangar, PR Federation of Teachers (FMPR), Puerto Rican Federation of Workers (FPT), FLEURUM, Brotherhood of Exempt Non-Teaching Employees (HEEND), La Colmena Cimarrona, LIUNA, Socialist Workers Movement, Trade Union Solidarity Movement (MSS), Poets on the March , ProSol UTIER, Toabajeños in Defense of the Environment, Communist Workers and Students for Social Change, UAW PR, General Union of Workers (UGT), UNETE and UTIER.