In 2022, Pfizer workers in Perth and Melbourne launched the first strikes in Australian pharmaceutical history, coordinating industrial action across states against a hugely profitable global giant. Their months-long campaign won significant pay rises and redundancy protections that were so strong they survived the sale of the Perth facility to a new owner, showing big pharma workers can use their industrial power.
Pfizer workers in Perth and Melbourne had enough of making life-saving medicines while their own living standards went backwards. In the first-ever pharmaceutical industry strikes in Australia, workers faced down a company making US$25 billion in profits that still refused a modest $1.60 per hour wage increase.
Workers across two states coordinated their industrial muscle, refusing to let the pharmaceutical giant play sites off against each other. Despite legal threats and corporate intimidation tactics, members held firm with rolling stoppages that hit production where it hurt. Their sustained campaign forced Pfizer to deliver thousands moe in annual earnings and proper redundancy protections.
The victory was particularly significant for Perth workers, who were bargaining at the same time Pfizer announced plans to sell their facility. When Bridgewest acquired the Perth site in 2023, our members’ militant industrial action had secured such strong conditions that the new owners were forced to retain the industry-leading agreement as part of the acquisition.
These workers proved that even global pharmaceutical giants aren’t untouchable when workers get organised. Their groundbreaking action cracked open the door for industrial action in an industry that claimed strikes were impossible.
The day of the strike was actually the best time of my life here. I really felt connected with my coworkers. Everyone was on the same page we wanted to win! – Cherilyn, Pfizer Bentley.