AbbVie Workers - A Strike Can Put Manners On Anti-Union Bosses

SIPTU members at the AbbVie plant in Carrigtwohill County Cork have served notice of industrial action starting on May 19th. The workers will start with a work to rule. But they should strike.

There’s been two Labour Court recommendations for this US corporation to recognise SIPTU’s right to bargain for workers particularly on pay rates. The company refuses to recognise the union and even responded with pay caps!

A cap on pay in the current cost of living crisis is in reality a cut in wages. SIPTU manufacturing divisional organiser, Neil McGowan, told newspapers:

“The workers in AbbVie in Cork have for many years attempted to vindicate their right to collectively bargain with their employer, this has been vetoed by management at every stage and they have had enough. The unanimous vote for industrial action demonstrates the strength of feeling and unity amongst the workers.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Andrea Cleere, said: “After meeting with members in early 2025, SIPTU representatives wrote to management regarding several matters including pay rates and the lack of a transparent pay structure.

“Following this communication management retaliated by unilaterally implementing a cap on wages. This ‘union busting’ approach by management is unacceptable to our members who believe they are being financially penalised and victimised for their trade union membership.”

Why strike? Because workers went on strike in 2017 and then de-escalated to work to rule in 2021. That’s four years between each action and the form of action has de-escalated. The company hasn’t budged since 2017 and is still ignoring the Labour Court.

The 2017 strike was over shift changes, pay rates and the right to a union.

AbbVie is the 6th largest pharma company in the world by revenue. They’ve ruthlessly pursued profits - for example raising the price of anti-inflammatory drug Humira by 470%.

The company shifts cash around to avoid tax - they suffered a 2020 pretax “loss” in the US of $4.5 billion and an overseas pretax profit of $7.9 billion the same year. The CEO Richard Gonzalez made $28.5 million in 2024 alone. AbbVie’s Westport Botox producing plant made €1.04 billion in profit last year.

The Mayo plant recognises SIPTU. But not in Cork. There are 2,600 workers employed by AbbVie in Ireland. The threat of an all out strike that could call for solidarity from workers in all AbbVie plants across the country could bring the company to heel.

Every trade unionist and worker in Ireland needs to stand in solidarity with the AbbVie workers as they take a stand against a union busting corporation. Time to strike.

Otherwise workers will be back in another four years for another work to rule.