Union Policy
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Union objectives:
1. We support union negotiations with dairy processors to increase the price of milk for the dairy farmers.
2. We support a coordinated milk strike against any dairy processors who opposes the dairy farmers getting a fair price for their milk.
3. We support all dairy farmers who do not want to join the union and will encourage all dairy processors to provide the same milk pricing to non members as well as union members.
4. We will support union negotiation with dairy processor to only increases milk price for union members only if necessary to get a new milk price.
5. We support a milk supply slow down against any dairy processors who oppose the dairy farmers getting a fair price for their milk.
6. We support the elimination of trucking and stop charges for our dairy farmers.
7. We support that the price of milk should always be above the cost of milk production.
8. We support a milk pricing system only if the farmer’s profitability, feed cost, fuel cost, cow cost, lending rates and other costs associated with dairy farming are indexed into the pricing formula.
9. We are against government subsidizes to directly improve the milk prices, because this is taxpayer money reducing the cost of milk to the dairy processors. The dairy processors not the taxpayer must pay the full cost to make and produce milk including a profit for the farmer..
10. We support government subsidizes which enhance the operation of the farm for either, energy efficiency, environmental improvements, land quality improvements, water quality improvements and enhanced cow living conditions and comfort.
11. We oppose the federal milk marketing order based on formula parameters that are only part of the dairy processors industry. This allows the processor to control the input parameters.
12. We support the farmer who parades their farm equipment in a safe manner in support of the DFU milk actions.
13. We support a diary farmer strike fund to provide funding to members while on strike, to offset the loss of milk income.
14. We encourage all dairy farmers to become union members. The stronger the union the more power the union has for negotiations.
15. We support an annual membership fund which will be the same for all members. These funds to be used to cover the cost of union operations.
16. We support a dairy farmer’s strike fund that is indexed to the amount of milk shipped from each farm per year. Larger farms pay more and smaller farms pay less into this fund. Funds are used to pay other members who are on strike.
17. We support advertising to inform the public of our mission even when it causes retail price increases. The advertizig will help the public understand that we need to save the dariry farmer but it will cost.
18. We oppose union begging for milk pricing policy change without the threat of milk supply action. Fair negotiation with government or dairy processors must come from a position of power. The power of the bulk tank, will ultimately effect real change.
19. We suppose the union in controlling the milk supply from its members to assure a profitable milk income, as long as all members within the shipping community is treated evenly.
20. We suppose improving the care and housing of all dairy cattle through better funding of the farm.
21. We support a reduction of farm milk output but with an increase pricing, to improve overall farm profitability.
22. We support a milk action against any dairy processor while compiling will all state and federal laws for our members.
23. We opposed any fees collected from union member's milk check to support dairy processors operation.
24. We opposed any stipulation the dairy processors place on union members bulk tank milk. The milk is not the property of the dairy processors until it is loaded in their trucks.
25. We opposed the retaining of dairy farmer's sign-on fees if a dairy farmer leaves the dairy processor. These fees must be returned to the farmer in the same or less time than the farmer had to pay for these sign-on fees.
1. We support union negotiations with dairy processors to increase the price of milk for the dairy farmers.
2. We support a coordinated milk strike against any dairy processors who opposes the dairy farmers getting a fair price for their milk.
3. We support all dairy farmers who do not want to join the union and will encourage all dairy processors to provide the same milk pricing to non members as well as union members.
4. We will support union negotiation with dairy processor to only increases milk price for union members only if necessary to get a new milk price.
5. We support a milk supply slow down against any dairy processors who oppose the dairy farmers getting a fair price for their milk.
6. We support the elimination of trucking and stop charges for our dairy farmers.
7. We support that the price of milk should always be above the cost of milk production.
8. We support a milk pricing system only if the farmer’s profitability, feed cost, fuel cost, cow cost, lending rates and other costs associated with dairy farming are indexed into the pricing formula.
9. We are against government subsidizes to directly improve the milk prices, because this is taxpayer money reducing the cost of milk to the dairy processors. The dairy processors not the taxpayer must pay the full cost to make and produce milk including a profit for the farmer..
10. We support government subsidizes which enhance the operation of the farm for either, energy efficiency, environmental improvements, land quality improvements, water quality improvements and enhanced cow living conditions and comfort.
11. We oppose the federal milk marketing order based on formula parameters that are only part of the dairy processors industry. This allows the processor to control the input parameters.
12. We support the farmer who parades their farm equipment in a safe manner in support of the DFU milk actions.
13. We support a diary farmer strike fund to provide funding to members while on strike, to offset the loss of milk income.
14. We encourage all dairy farmers to become union members. The stronger the union the more power the union has for negotiations.
15. We support an annual membership fund which will be the same for all members. These funds to be used to cover the cost of union operations.
16. We support a dairy farmer’s strike fund that is indexed to the amount of milk shipped from each farm per year. Larger farms pay more and smaller farms pay less into this fund. Funds are used to pay other members who are on strike.
17. We support advertising to inform the public of our mission even when it causes retail price increases. The advertizig will help the public understand that we need to save the dariry farmer but it will cost.
18. We oppose union begging for milk pricing policy change without the threat of milk supply action. Fair negotiation with government or dairy processors must come from a position of power. The power of the bulk tank, will ultimately effect real change.
19. We suppose the union in controlling the milk supply from its members to assure a profitable milk income, as long as all members within the shipping community is treated evenly.
20. We suppose improving the care and housing of all dairy cattle through better funding of the farm.
21. We support a reduction of farm milk output but with an increase pricing, to improve overall farm profitability.
22. We support a milk action against any dairy processor while compiling will all state and federal laws for our members.
23. We opposed any fees collected from union member's milk check to support dairy processors operation.
24. We opposed any stipulation the dairy processors place on union members bulk tank milk. The milk is not the property of the dairy processors until it is loaded in their trucks.
25. We opposed the retaining of dairy farmer's sign-on fees if a dairy farmer leaves the dairy processor. These fees must be returned to the farmer in the same or less time than the farmer had to pay for these sign-on fees.
Member Objectives:
1. We require all members to have a computer and an email account to received union information.
2. We require all members to be either a dairy farmer, past dairy farmer or a supporter of dairy farmers.
3. We oppose the membership of any member actively working for the dairy processor industry.
4. We oppose the membership of any member actively working for government service.
5. We require all dairy farmers to provide updated milk survey information of their milk shipping history. This will contain information such as: milk quantities shipped per month, milk plants shipped to, number of cows milking and milk priced received per month.
6. We require all dairy farmer members to participate in milk slow down or milk shut off if requested by the union vote. We will allow excepting to strike requirement by approved petition if necessary.
7. We want our members to actively help in obtaining new dairy farmer members for the DFU. The more members the better chance to meeting member pricing for the milk.
2. We require all members to be either a dairy farmer, past dairy farmer or a supporter of dairy farmers.
3. We oppose the membership of any member actively working for the dairy processor industry.
4. We oppose the membership of any member actively working for government service.
5. We require all dairy farmers to provide updated milk survey information of their milk shipping history. This will contain information such as: milk quantities shipped per month, milk plants shipped to, number of cows milking and milk priced received per month.
6. We require all dairy farmer members to participate in milk slow down or milk shut off if requested by the union vote. We will allow excepting to strike requirement by approved petition if necessary.
7. We want our members to actively help in obtaining new dairy farmer members for the DFU. The more members the better chance to meeting member pricing for the milk.