Dairy milk testers in the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) were on day three of job action on Friday (Nov. 28) after serving strike notice.
The milk testers collect samples from about 175 dairy herds across B.C. and bring them for testing at the Lactanet Canada’s Pacific Milk Analysis lab in Chilliwack.
“These workers are demanding that Lactanet reconsider how it’s using the fees it charges farmers for testing and cover the actual current-day costs of travelling to farms to gather samples,” said BCGEU treasurer Maria Middlemiss in a release Nov. 28.
The dairy milk testers started this job action on Nov. 25 after being about 26 months without a contract. The union says the they only started withdrawing services after 20 months of bargaining without an agreement on compensation for expenses.
“This work stoppage was a tough decision for us because we’re passionate about the dairy industry and we’re dedicated to the farmers,” said Jack van Dongen, a milk tester, former dairy farmer and chair of the workers’ bargaining committee.
“Many of us milk testers work second jobs to make ends meet,” he added. “We’re not trying to get rich doing this job, but it’s not reasonable or sustainable for us to pay out-of-pocket for travel expenses, especially since that’s not the industry norm.”
They’re seeking increases to the compensation they receive for mileage to offset costs from driving their personal vehicles, sometimes up to 100 kilometres from their home bases. Those costs range from fuel, business insurance, and tires, to maintenance, depreciation and repairs.
The dairy milk testers, also known as dairy production technicians (DPTs), who work for Lactanet are currently paid $0.41 per kilometre. To compare the Canada Revenue Agency uses a $0.72/km rate for work travel when using personal vehicles.
The union says the withdrawal of the milk testers’ services mean that farmers will not receive the data needed to prove the quality of their milk to the BC Milk Board, the body that determines how much the milk is worth and how much revenue the farmers receive.
The are calling on Lactanet to return to the bargaining table.
Lactanet Canada is a national body serving dairy farmers that performs milk analysis, including milk recording and special genetic testing to provide data for herd management.
“Balancing finances on the backs of workers is not a way to help the dairy industry thrive,” said Middlemiss.
The Lactanet milk testers in B.C. voted 89 per cent in favour of strike action on Nov. 18, 2025 and have been working without a contract since Sept. 30, 2023, according to the release.
Lactanet officials have not yet responded to a request for comment.