Workers for a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company in Bentley have walked off the job and are camping out in protest over a pay dispute with the company that made a $25 billion dollar profit last financial year.
The 150 United Workers Union members working at Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Bentley will brave the cold, the wind and the rain after their bid for an 18 per cent pay increase over three years – equating to $1.60 per day – was denied, with Pfizer only prepared to offer 12 per cent over three years.
UWU allied coordinator Louise Dillon said it was a slap in the face to workers, who manufacture oncology medicine and the COVAX saline injectables, who had braved the pandemic to make sure people got the medicine they needed.
“This company made $25 billion dollars last year, this pay increase isn’t over the top,” she said.
“CPI has gone up 7.6 per cent, some of these workers have had their rent increase by $100 dollars a week and while Pfizer executives have been safe at home, these workers have braved the pandemic to keep them running.”
“Australians contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to Pfizer’s profit margins but the company is insistent on squeezing every single dollar, even if it means screwing workers out of a fair pay deal.
“It really is unbelievable that on one hand Pfizer tell us they couldn’t possibly consider a $1.60 pay rise while shovelling out billions to wealthy shareholders across the planet.
“Greed, it’s a pretty insidious disease for which there seems to be no cure.”
The site is also scheduled to close in two years, and Ms Dillon said workers were frustrated by the lack of communication regarding the closure and their futures.
An extra $1.60 per day would make a world of difference for a worker like Victoria Park resident Chipo Muyanda, who has worked at the plant for 13 years.
“My day-to-day costs are increasing and it might not seem like much but getting to 18 per cent would make a world of difference.
“My mortgage has gone up by $400 a month, I need this pay-rise to keep a roof over my head.
“I wouldn’t say I’m looking forward to camping out, but it’s a good cause, it’s a just cause and we’re going to see it through.”
UWU members from the plant reserve the right to take indefinite action in the event Pfizer refuses to return to the bargaining table with a fair offer.
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