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Staff at a company which produces packaging for medicines will walk out three days a week until April 2027 unless they receive an improved pay offer in a move that could further disrupt the supply of drugs to pharmacies. 

The trade union Unite, which represents workers at Amcor’s factory in Cramlington, Northumberland, yesterday said they decided to escalate strike action after turning down a 4.1 per cent pay rise which did “not go far enough to address years of low pay and the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis”.

Staff originally agreed to walk out every Monday until April 6, 2027, and started striking on May 18. From June 8, however, they will strike on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays until April 7 next year.

Amcor plc, which is based in Switzerland, produces pharmaceutical packaging for companies including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and AbbVie.

Unite told Independent Community Pharmacist the initial strike action would have caused “limited disruption” to the supply of medicines that Amcor makes packaging for but warned the three-day-a-week action “will have a much greater impact”.

When asked what types of medicines will be impacted, such as prescription, over-the-counter and general sales list medicines, a Unite spokesperson said: “All medicines will be affected which has foil packaging. All of the above.”

In a statement yesterday announcing the ratcheting up of strike action, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Amcor is a very wealthy company and can fully afford to give our members a better pay offer, but instead it is prioritising its own greed. Its workers deserve better and Unite will continue to back them in their fight for fair pay.”

Unite cited figures showing Amcor Flexibles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amcor Plc, had a turnover of £98 million.

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.”

An Amcor spokesperson told ICP it was “committed to working towards a positive resolution” and keeping communication lines open with Unite.

“We can confirm that limited industrial action has taken place at our Cramlington site in the UK, which employs approximately 50 colleagues," the spokesperson said. “Operations have continued as normal, without supply disruptions and the situation is being managed locally in line with standard processes. 

“The safety, security and wellbeing of our colleagues remain our top priority. We respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful, non-violent demonstration and we continue to welcome constructive dialogue with trade union representatives.”