“We want to resist for Roquefort”: the Conf’ is determined not to give up and said it again in Millau

“On remarque que c’est souvent la Conf’ qui est convoquée” ont font valoir les syndiqués et militants. Midi Libre – L.VAILLANT

Convoqué au tribunal de Millau ce vendredi 22 mars, Christian Cros a redit les griefs envers Lactalis.

This Friday, March 22, in front of the Millau local court, a few yellow flags are raised. It reads Confédération paysanne. Around fifteen people are present to support Christian Cros, Conf’ activist, summoned for acts dating back to February 21.

That day, responding to the call of the farmers' union, around a hundred activists and sympathizers came to the Lauras roundabout in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon to demand a revaluation of the price of milk from Lactalis. The confederates and partisans took advantage of the national operation carried out in Mayenne at the company's headquarters in Laval, to mark the occasion.

After the occupation of the roundabout which ended in a friendly moment, some demonstrators headed, at the beginning of the afternoon, towards the premises of Société, a subsidiary of the group agro-industrial Lactalis. The objective: once again to make their demands heard. As close as possible to the one they denounce.

Summoned to court

An operation which was not to the taste of the Société group since this Friday March 22, Christian Cros, manager of the Gaec de Terre Blanc which also sits within the General Confederation of Roquefort, was summoned to the local court in Millau. He was accused "of having organized a demonstration on the public highway which had not been the subject of a prior declaration", indicated Orane Dupont, union organizer, in a press release.

While waiting for his release, his comrades waited in front of the establishment, under the gaze of two police officers. For Nino Fillos, Confederate, it was important to be present. "Christian not alone on the Lauras roundabout and we do not understand why he is the only one to be summoned today". 

"We want to make a living from our job"

A few minutes later, Christian Cros emerged from the court, to applause, with a reminder of the law. The opportunity, in front of witnesses, to recall the demands of the peasants. "We want to resist for Roquefort"  he explained. The price of milk being largely the cause of the demands, the Confédération paysanne wants it to be increased. "We're not looking to roll in gold. Just to be able to make a living from our profession. And not survive, as currently" said Nino Fillos.

Also, the question of generational renewal was addressed. "We must have farms on a human scale, transmissible, viable and livable"< /em> said the confederate Hugo Capoulade, in front of the court. "We have, in South Aveyron, collection points with 300 or 350 dairy sheep which are not taken back. It’s difficult for young people to consider the profession in current conditions."