Medicine packaging workers strike over pay dispute

Jonny ManningNorth East and Cumbria
News imageGoogle Amcor's factory in Cramlington. The building has a green roof and a dark glass entrance.Google
Unite workers at Amcor in Cramlington are set to strike every Monday for 11 months

Workers at a factory which makes packaging for medicines are to go on strike following a dispute over pay.

Unite members at Amcor's plant in Cramlington, Northumberland, have agreed to walk out every Monday from 18 May until 6 April 2027.

Staff have turned down a pay rise of 4.1% as they believe it does not address the cost of living crisis and previous years of low pay offers.

A spokesperson for Amcor said the company was committed to "constructive dialogue with trade union representatives to seek a positive solution".

The Cramlington factory, which is owned by Swiss firm Amcor Plc, prints pharmaceutical packaging for companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and AbbVie.

Unite said the strike action would lead to delays to deliveries.

Unite regional officer Craig Patterson said there was still a chance of preventing the strike action but it relied on Amcor coming back to negotiations with a new pay deal.

"Industrial action will be very disruptive to Amcor's operations," he said.

"However, it is the company's fault for refusing to budge on its initial offer, which is not acceptable to our members."

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