Drug firm workers to strike

Workers at the United Drug Sangers NI are set to take their first day of strike action on Wednesday, July 15, after members rejected a management pay offer.

Large majorities endorsed the 24 hour stoppage, which is likely to result in disruption of medical supplies to pharmacies and medical centres.

“The failure of management to make a genuine pay offer has led to the collapse of pay negotiations and forced Unite to ballot our members for industrial action,” said Unite regional officer Sean Smyth.

Both warehouse workers and drivers were balloted for strike action, with warehouse workers voting 79.3 per cent in favour and drivers voting in favour almost unanimously – by 97.7 per cent.

“Turnout in both ballots exceeded 70 per cent reflecting the high degree of determination among workers to secure a fair deal on pay,” Smyth noted.

“Our members have made a huge contribution to the success of this company,” he added.

“Sangers posted almost £mom profits last year, an increase of 73 per cent on the previous year; a result that placed Sangers 27th in the top one hundred NI companies. Yet all the workforce has received for their efforts is a seven-month pay freeze.”

Smyth argued that members had seen strike action as a last resort but were forced into the situation because of “management intransigence”.

“Indeed, management have refused our requests to take the case to the Labour Relations Agency in an attempt to avoid the industrial action,” he said. “They have acted in a confrontational way and sought to provoke their workforce into industrial action.

“We are warning the public that management stonewalling is likely to result in significant disruption to the distribution of medical supplies as a result of strike action but even at this late stage it is not too late to avoid this adverse impact on the public.”

Smyth called on management to reverse course, return to the negotiation table and enter meaningful talks on fair pay.