There will be delays to medical packaging supplies as around 30 workers at Amcor's plant in Cramlington, Northumberland will walk out in a dispute over pay.

The Unite members, who make packaging for several major pharmaceutical companies in the UK and worldwide, have turned down a pay rise of 4.1 per cent, as they believe this does not address the cost of living crisis and previous years of low pay offers.

Strikes will take place every Monday from 18 May until 6 April 2027, with the potential for further escalation. When there is a bank holiday, the action will take place on a Tuesday instead.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Amcor can more than afford to come back to the table with a better offer for its hardworking and specialist workers.

"Instead, it is putting profits over people. Unite will not stand for it and we will back our members throughout this dispute."

The Cramlington site prints pharmaceutical packaging for a wide range of customers, including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and AbbVie.

Strike action will lead to delays to deliveries, as well as reputational damage, if Amcor is unable to fulfil orders.

Amcor Flexibles is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amcor Plc, a worldwide packaging company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Its latest published accounts, for the year ended 30 June showed it had a turnover of £98 million.

Unite regional officer Craig Patterson said: "Industrial action will be very disruptive to Amcor's operations. However, it is the company's fault for refusing to budge on its initial offer, which is not acceptable to our members.

"There is still a chance to prevent strike action, but that relies on Amcor coming back to negotiations with a new pay deal."

ENDS 

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Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org