KMF Employees Announce Strike from February 1, Nandini Milk & Curd Supply Likely to be Affected

Dairy supply in Karnataka is on the brink of a major crisis. As a leading dairy brand, Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is set to shut down its operations indefinitely, plunging the state into a severe milk shortage. Consumers are in for a rude awakening as Nandini brand milk and curd are likely to vanish from shelves starting February 1 due to a looming strike by KMF employees.

The Karnataka government, led by K. Sudhakar Rao, has already accepted the 7th Pay Commission recommendations and issued orders to implement revised salaries and allowances for government employees. Despite this, KMF employees have raised concerns that an 8% salary hike still remains unpaid. With no action taken on this issue, they have issued a stark warning of an impending strike.

KMF officials and employees have clearly stated that if their revised salaries under the 7th Pay Commission are not implemented, they will proceed with a strike from February 1. If the protest goes ahead as planned, it is expected to severely impact the supply of Nandini milk and curd across Karnataka, leading to a possible shortage.

Currently, over 1,300 officers and employees are working at KMF, and they have been consistently pressuring the board for the past two to three months to implement the pay commission's recommendations. Despite their efforts, the board has not yet taken significant action. As a result, employees have decided to go on strike, and the protest is set to begin on February 1.

The government has also issued an order stating that the revised pay scales will only be implemented from October 1, 2024. However, KMF and its affiliated unions have reportedly been delaying the implementation on technical grounds. In response, KMF employees and officer unions have united to take the unanimous decision to halt operations starting February 1.

The strike, if it takes place, is expected to lead to a major disruption in the milk supply across the state, putting consumers in a challenging situation. The outcome of this protest could have far-reaching consequences for daily milk and curd availability, with no immediate solution in sight.