On Tuesday, pharmaceutical workers continued their strike in Bronx, New York in front of Perrigo, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures and sells over-the-counter medications and other products.
The Perrigo contract expired on August 31, and they went on strike days later on September 2. Tuesday marked two weeks of the strikes and workers fighting for overtime pay and retirement benefits. The Perrigo strike is one of five happening in New York City, and one of forty-seven happening across the country.
Perrigo’s introduction of a “new product” led to the proposal of new 12-hour shifts, where employees work three or four days a week. Employees would be required to work Friday through Sunday at 36 hours a week or Thursday through Sunday at 48 hours a week—at their regular hourly wage.
Princess Walker, mother of seven and Perrigo employee for fifteen years, made $29.70 an hour as a line operator. Prior to the strike, she worked 10-hour shifts five days a week. Her 50-hour workweeks allowed her to provide for herself and her family. “If they do that twelve shift, we won’t get that time and a half. We’ll just be doing straight twelve,” said Walker.
On September 10, Perrigo New York Management offered a new proposal that stated, “current employees will not be required to work the 12-hour shift”. They also “added language stating that only new employees hired after January 1, 2026, may be assigned to work the 12-hour shift”.
Lydia Torres, Vice President of Teamsters Local 210 and community member of over twenty years, felt strongly about Perrigo’s lack of effort to find an adequate middle ground. “To say it’s only for new employees is ridiculous,” said Torres. “You’re creating a division.”
Local 210 represents hourly workers at Perrigo, many from Black and Brown communities. While on strike, union members receive $1,000 weekly to compensate for being out-of-work. A report by THE CITY stated that Perrigo management posted a notice that the company is replacing current workers “on a permanent basis.”
Perrigo New York Management declined to comment.
FIERCE Pharma reported on September 5 that there were two open positions in the operations department of its Bronx facility. As of Wednesday, this number has increased to thirteen. Teamsters Local 210 will sit down again on September 17 to resume bargaining of their contract with Perrigo New York Management.
“I’m here as long as it takes. As long as we get what we deserve, I’m out here,” said Walker.
This was originally created as part of a class assignment for Reporting at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Destiny Rae Jones 