MILKMEN toasted another good day yesterday after the States voted to let them keep the cream of their rounds. The Commerce and Employment Department was left licking its wounds after its proposal that would have allowed competition on retailers’ patches was rejected 37-4.
But the Guernsey Milk Retailers’ Association said members had only been defending what was rightfully theirs and, with legal fees of more than £30,000, victory had come at a cost.
President Jason Pirou said: ‘Commerce and Employment’s original action had left us doubting the States’ credibility, but the overwhelming support from the other members has restored our faith in the system.’
Some GMRA members sat bleary-eyed in the public gallery through nearly three days of debate after getting up at 2am each day beforehand to do their rounds.
Mr Piriou said they were now looking to the future.
‘Commerce and Employment have had clear directions from the States and we look forward now to working with them on that to achieve the right result.’
His wife Kerry, the GMRA secretary, said milkmen had been given their lives back, but it was too early to say how the value of rounds would be affected.
‘We would hope that once the bruises have gone, the value of rounds will return to what they were and we will have security,’ she said.
‘The hours that we put into this were unbelievable and we must have attended hundreds of meetings. Now we can spend more time with our children and give them the attention they deserve.’
Prior to the department’s proposals, first made public in September 2005, rounds were changing hands for up to £100,000. Four were put on the market in the interim, but none of them sold.
Committee member Matt Waterman said States members seemed to have appreciated how milkmen had engaged in the political process, but he did not see the outcome as a victory.
‘It’s a weight off our shoulders but we haven’t really gained anything as we’ve only defended what was ours already,’ he said.
Committee member Tony Clinton said he hoped that Commerce and Employment would take a different attitude towards milkmen in future discussions and be a bit more open with them.
Mr Piriou said GMRA members were grateful for the help of so many people, including deputies and customers.
‘We’d like to thank all of the deputies who worked closely with us in preparing and supporting the amendments,’ he said.
‘We had the support of so many professional people along the way and without them I think our case would have fallen.’
Mrs Piriou said the case showed what people could achieve when they worked together as a group.
Article posted on 28th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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