Cramlington workers up the stakes in pay dispute
Workers at a Cramlington medical packaging supplies company are to escalate their strike action in a dispute about pay.
Around 30 Unite union members at Amcor started a series of walk outs earlier this month in a pay dispute – originally taking action on Mondays at the plant on the town’s Nelson Park Industrial Estate.
The union has announced that, from June 8, they will now strike on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays – until April 7 next year.
Workers have turned down a 4.1% pay offer from their employer as they believe this does not go far enough to address what they says is years of low pay and the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The union says Amcor Flexibles is very profitable, wholly owned subsidiary of Amcor Plc - a worldwide packaging company headquartered in Switzerland, which – with a turnover of £98m.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Amcor is a very wealthy company and can fully afford to give our members a better pay offer.
Its workers deserve better and Unite will continue to back them in their fight for fair pay.”
The staff involved in the dispute make packaging for several major pharmaceutical companies in the UK and worldwide, which include GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and AbbVie.
Unite regional officer Craig Patterson said: “Our members at Amcor have been left with no choice but to escalate strike action, to make their voices heard.
“Amcor could end this action, which risks product delays and also will harm relationships with its clients, but that relies on the company changing tack and returning to negotiations with an improved pay offer.”
When the dispute began, a spokesperson from Amcor said: "We remain committed to engage in constructive dialogue with trade union representatives to seek a positive solution.
"The safety and wellbeing of our employees remains our top priority.”