The union said in a statement that blocking production plants obstructed regular business which would most definitely reflect on business results and workers' salaries. The union called on the government and relevant institutions to help resolve the argument as soon as possible and enable an agreement acceptable to all participants in the production chain.

Milk farmers were protesting on Friday for the fourth consecutive day outside the Dukat dairy company in Zagreb and its daughter company Sirela in Bjelovar, blocking local roads with their tractors.

The protesting milk farmers are dissatisfied with Dukat's offer for the purchase price of milk for February of HRK 2.30 per litre. They are not satisfied with Wednesday's meeting at the Agriculture Ministry and claim that no agreement was reached and that the purchase price of milk was not defined.

They want Dukat to withdraw its offer for the purchase price of raw milk for February of 2.30 kuna per litre, which is around 0.40 kuna less than the previous price, and demand that the average purchase price be the same as in the EU.

The association of milk producers from Osijek-Baranja County issued a statement on Friday saying it did not support milk farmers' protests, adding that the Agriculture Ministry must not be excluded from the negotiations . The association support exclusively the European milk purchase price.

Dukat managing board president Alen Fontana said today that the situation outside Dukat production plants, notably outside Bjelovar-based Sirela, was unbearable as the plants could not operate, calling on protestors to enable them to collect milk from contract farmers.

The protest outside the company prevented Dukat trucks from going on the road and collect over one million litres of milk, Fontana said, adding that 300 workers have not showed up for work as Dukat's plants have been shut down.

The regional HDSSB party in parliament today fully supported the demands of milk farmers, asking that the national milk production be protected.