Workers at AbbVie’s manufacturing facility in Carrigtwohill, Ireland—one of six plants the Illinois drugmaker runs in the business-friendly county—are prepared to begin “industrial action” next week, which could eventually lead to a strike, according to several Irish news outlets.
Members of the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) will kick off the protest on Monday in response to a dispute over pay. The SIPTU also claims that management has refused to negotiate and has engaged in anti-union activity at the 23-year-old plant, which is known as AbbVie Cork and produces capsules and tablets.
With the threat of a strike looming, the industrial action will begin with an overtime ban on Monday. SIPTU organizer Andrea Cleere said that the workers had “no option” aside from the industrial action, according to the Irish Examiner.
Cleere told the Cork Beo that after a meeting with management early this year, the SIPTU requested an adjustment to pay rates and more transparency on the plant’s pay structure.
“Management retaliated by unilaterally implementing a cap on wages,” Cleere said. “This ‘union busting’ approach by management is unacceptable to our members who believe they are being financially penalized and victimized for their trade union membership.”
Another SIPTU organizer, Neil McGowan, added that the management’s reluctance to engage in collective bargaining has been an ongoing issue with workers at AbbVie Cork.
“This has been vetoed by management at every stage, and the (workers) have had enough. The unanimous vote for industrial action demonstrates the strength of feeling and unity amongst the workers,” McGowan said.
AbbVie did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In 2022, AbbVie announced an expansion of the facility, which included an investment of 60 million euros ($59.3 million) and the addition of 70 workers to its staff of 150.