Staff at pharma plant to take industrial action

SIPTU members in a pharmaceutical plant in Cork will begin industrial action this Monday in a dispute over pay and alleged anti-union practices.

Earlier this year, staff at the AbbVie manufacturing facility in Carrigtwohill wrote to management regarding several issues including pay rates and the lack of a transparent pay structure.

Following the communication, management at AbbVie Cork responded by unilaterally implementing a cap on wages, according to SIPTU, Ireland's largest trade union.

Yesterday, SIPTU members called on the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, to legislate for the right to collective bargaining for workers in Ireland, highlighting their long running battle for union recognition.

Speaking ahead of Monday’s commencement of industrial action, SIPTU Sector Organiser Andrea Cleere said the trade union’s members at the plant were “left with no option other than to implement a campaign of industrial action after numerous attempts to resolve the issues at the company through negotiations with management had been refused”.

“This ‘union busting’ approach by management is unacceptable to our members who believe they are being financially penalised and victimised for their trade union membership,” said Ms Cleere.

Following the implementation of the wage cap, staff at the plant balloted for industrial action up to and including strike action, with a large majority in favour. The initial stage of their industrial action will take the form of a work to rule, including an overtime ban, strict adherence to standard operating procedures, and requiring the requisite four weeks’ notice before changing shift patterns.

According to SIPTU, workers employed by AbbVie Cork have two Labour Court recommendations which advise that the employer recognise SIPTU as the workers’ chosen union for collective bargaining purposes.

This should mean that the company engages with SIPTU representatives on any changes to workers’ terms and conditions including those which affect pay. The company has decided to ignore the recommendation, said Ms Cleere.

She added: “This is the problem with the voluntarist model of industrial relations we have in Ireland. It allows companies to flout the Labour Court when workers are merely seeking their basic human right to collectively engage with their employer.”

According to SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser Neil McGowan, the workers in AbbVie in Cork have for years attempted to vindicate their right to collectively bargaining. “This has been vetoed by management at every stage and they have had enough,” said Mr McGowan.

The Cork Independent reached out to AbbVie for comment but none was received by time of going to print on Wednesday.