Pfizer workers walk off the job in Mulgrave

Pfizer workers at the Mulgrave factory have walked off the job, giving the pharmaceutical giant “a taste of their own medicine”.

Pfizer manufacturing workers have walked off the job in Mulgrave. Picture: AFP

Manufacturing workers from multinational pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer spent their Thursday afternoon rallying outside its Mulgrave plant, in protest of the company’s substandard wage offer.

The gathering formed part of a 24-hour strike-action organised by United Workers Union (UWU) members employed by Pfizer, who are calling for better pay and a reduction in bonus conditions.

At 10.30pm on Wednesday night manufacturing workers, including those responsible for creating anticancer oncology drugs, walked off the job after the multinational company refused to meet their demands.

Union members will have a meeting with the Fair Work Commission on Monday as they continue their negotiations with Pfizer.

United Workers Union members outside Pfizer’s Mulgrave plant striking for better pay.

However, if the pharmaceutical company and UWU members don’t come to an agreement, manufacturing coordinator Belinda Jacobi said employees will continue with strike action.

“Members have endorsed further industrial action today so we will continue fighting for those things,” she told the Herald Sun.

Further strike action could include four-hour stoppages or another 24-hour walkout in the coming weeks.

Under the new enterprise agreement (EA), Pfizer has offered a number of small pay increases from 3 per cent each year but members have disputed the rises asking for a wage increase closer to current and projected inflation percentages.

The company also offered a number of bonuses on top of the yearly pay increase but these are subject to a number of conditions, including workers having to pay back the bonus if they resign or are sacked.

Due to this, members are calling on the company to “roll” the bonuses into their annual increases.

UWU National Secretary Tim Kennedy suggested such conditions essentially amounts to a pay cut with Pfizer reaping huge profits, recording $25bn in gains last financial year.

“Workers at Pfizer have not made the decision to take strike action lightly – they know that without a day’s wage things will be tight next week,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Figures released last week showed inflation soaring well above seven percent in Melbourne.

Pfizer workers are rallying for better pay conditions.

For the striking workers, the increased cost of rent, the interest rate hikes and the grocery bill, it’s really starting to bite.

Mr Kennedy said workers know Pfizer can afford to pay them more due to the number of “sweeteners” on offer.

“Pfizer bosses need to stop with the money-grubbing and game playing and return with a fair offer for the loyal workers, many of whom have worked at the plant for upwards of 20 years,” he said.

The pharmaceutical company is also seeking to alter workers’ shift times in addition to removing the fortnightly rostered day off for new starters, according to the UWU.

Ms Jacobi, who has been working in manufacturing for 19 years, said Pfizer is seeking to cut costs by taking away employee privileges.

“The company wants to introduce other cost saving measures around shift penalties and may take away paid lunch breaks some time in the future,” she said.

Another employee speaking up at the event was packing operator Mark Atkin, who said changes to workers’ current conditions will prevent them from having a healthy work-life balance.

“We want to keep the conditions we have at the moment so that we can (spend time) with our families,” he said

Union members at the rally were joined by federal member for Chisholm Carina Garland who endorsed the workers and their efforts.

The strike action comes after the company allegedly made 10 redundancies, two of which were “forced” according to the union. This was despite 13 expressions of interest in voluntary redundancies.

However, Pfizer told the Herald Sun that this wasn’t the case saying those who scored high in the assessment for redundancy selection were evaluated as needing to stay.

As for the dispute over the proposed enterprise agreement, Pfizer said they will continue to work with pharmaceutical operators until they reach a consensus that is in the best interest of the staff members as well as the company

“Pfizer is working closely with the union to agree on an EA that works for all employees which offers fair and reasonable terms for wages and allowances, and addresses the increased cost of living from a rise in inflation,” a spokesperson said.

“It is important to note that wages for the company’s Melbourne manufacturing employees are between 18 per cent and 30 per cent higher than the market median.”

Pfizer said it’s provided significant support to its employees in recent years, with permanent and fixed term contract employees receiving additional Covid-19 bonuses in the last two years.

It’s not the first time union members and Pfizer have bumped heads with Perth employees walking off the job in August over a similar pay disagreement.