Local Dairy Locks Out Employees

Owners of the Elmhurst Honeywell Dairy locked out more than 170 employees at the Jamaicabased processing plant on July 15, abruptly halting production of almost 90 percent of the city's milk and milk products, forcing retailers to purchase milk from out-of-state processors, union representatives said.

Frank Wunderlich, secretary/treasurer of Local 584, said the union was negotiating a contract and that employees had been working at the plant for almost two weeks without a contract when the lockout abruptly began.Wages, medical insurance and pensions are sticking points in contract negotiations for engineers, machinists, lab workers and drivers at the plant.

Officials claim milk sales have dropped 4 percent in the last year and that the 53-cent-a-gallon increase announced by industry officials last month is the result of higher taxes, utilities and the rising cost of corn- which is used to feed cows and produce ethanol.

A small, unscientific, anecdotal survey of Astoria and Long Island City supermarkets and grocery stores shows the average cost of a gallon of milk in Queens ranges from $3.54 to $3.89. Two area supermarkets offered a gallon of milk on sale for $2.99, while displaying their regular list price of $3.79.

Shoppers at two area supermarkets agreed that consumers are caught in a bind when milk prices skyrocket. "Milk isn't like gasoline," Junee Miano, 31, said. "People can cut back on their purchase of gasoline, but milk is milk- and you've gotta have it, especially if you have kids."

Industry insiders told the Gazette that consumers can expect a hefty spike in all milk products over the next few months, including yogurt, ice cream products and cheeses.

Wunderlich said Henry Schwartz, owner of the Elmhurst Honeywell Dairy, is offering a wage package that is unreasonable for New York City workers. Under the package, new workers would make just over minimum wage and would have no chance for advancement. Schwartz refused comment on the ongoing contract negotiations.

Meanwhile, employees are eager to return to work at the processing plant, Wunderlich said. "We hope this lockout doesn't go on for long," he stated.- Liz Goff