Pfizer workers have walked off the job in protest over pay offers of 3 per cent a year in a sign of mounting wage pressures after inflation hit a 32-year-high.

More than 100 manufacturing workers started 24-hour strike action at Pfizer’s Melbourne plant on Wednesday night after the pharmaceutical giant refused to budge on its offer of a 10 per cent pay rise over three years or back down on removing union conditions to support a 24/7 operation.