Employees at Amcor’s Cramlington plant in Northumberland, UK, are increasing industrial action after refusing a pay proposal, according to the BBC.
Unite members at the facility, which produces packaging for medicines, had been striking every Monday from 18 May. From 8 June, the stoppages are set to cover Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week.
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The union said the proposed settlement was insufficient given what it described as longstanding low wages and pressure from the cost-of-living crisis.
The factory supplies printed pharmaceutical packaging for customers including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and AbbVie.
Unite regional officer Craig Patterson said workers were “left with no choice but to escalate strike action”.
He commented: “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.”
In response, an Amcor spokesperson said: “We respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful, non-violent demonstration, and we continue to welcome constructive dialogue with trade union representatives.”
The company said plant activity had remained normal.
The dispute is expected to continue until 7 April 2027.
In a separate case in March, production employees at Smurfit Westrock’s site in Wakefield, Massachusetts, US, started strike action after contract talks stalled.
The 60 workers, represented by Teamsters Local 3, launched what was described as an unfair labour practice strike after their previous agreement ended on 23 March. That strike ended last month.
