Workers at a critical $\text{St.}$ $\text{Albans}$ $\text{Cooperative}$ Creamery processing plant stage a $\text{12}$-hour walkout over stagnant wages and work conditions.

A brief but impactful $\text{12}$-hour strike recently halted operations at a key processing facility, the $\text{St.}$ $\text{Albans}$ $\text{Cooperative}$ $\text{Creamery}$ in $\text{Vermont}$. This sudden labor action, initiated by the workers, underscores intense pressure points in the agribusiness supply chain. The striking employees presented a substantial demand for a $\text{\$5}$ per hour wage increase, arguing that their reported starting wage of $\text{\$21}$ per hour is no longer economically viable given the state’s high cost of living. The core of the dispute centers on compensation disparity, where workers report that their wages have been stagnant for several years, failing to keep pace with escalating essential expenses. The union’s push for a $\text{\$5}$ raise reflects a demand for roughly a $\text{24\%}$ hike on the current starting rate, highlighting the competitive challenges facing dairy producers and manufacturers in retaining skilled labor in high cost-of-living areas. Workers also demanded the elimination of $\text{12}$-hour shifts and larger contributions to their retirement and health insurance plans.