Mayoral front-runner Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani was greeted by a wave of cheers Monday morning from striking pharmaceutical workers as he visited them in a show of solidarity at their Bronx picket line.
As first reported by THE CITY, over 200 workers, many of whom are immigrants, have been on strike since Sept. 2, when negotiations broke down between their union, Teamsters Local 210, and their employer, Perrigo Pharmaceutical.
“Often, a strike is seen as if it’s a decision by workers; let me be clear, this is a decision by management,” said Mamdani in a speech he made standing beside the workers. “Workers don’t want to be on strike, they want to be working. But if you ask those workers to work more hours, you should pay those workers the increased wages they deserve.”
The Ireland-based Perrigo is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of generic over-the-counter drugs. They produce everything from off-label hemorrhoid cream to off-label cough syrup.
At the heart of the workers’ conflict, according to the union, is the company’s alleged plan to eliminate overtime pay during its weekend operations as it transitions to operating 24 hours a day. Currently, workers are scheduled for four 10-hour shifts per week. They can also opt to work a weekend shift and earn overtime pay.
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The union says that Perrigo now plans to mandate 12-hour shifts, with weekend shifts being part of the regular schedule instead of being an option. Workers would also no longer be eligible for overtime pay.
“At a time when working-class New Yorkers are struggling to afford this city, Perrigo wants to make it even harder by gutting hard-won overtime protections and retirement security,” said Lydia Torres, vice president of Local 210, in a statement shared with Documented. “Perrigo plans to expand operations to 24 hours a day, and we welcome that — but not on the backs of our members.”
Since the start of the strike, the union has had six rounds of negotiations with management. Yet, in spite of ongoing negotiations, according to the union and an email that Documented reviewed, Perrigo has attempted to hire replacement workers. Outside their Bronx facility, Perrigo flew help-wanted flags as dozens of workers marched outside, chanting “no more union busting” into a bullhorn. By the gate, the union placed a giant inflatable rat.
On Sep. 11, the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Perrigo of failing to bargain with the union in good faith and attempting to bargain directly with the workers on the picket line. The union also accused the company of threatening employees with permanent replacements.
A lone worker protests Perrigo. Credit Amir Khafagy
In a “fact sheet” Perrigo shared with Documented, the company denies bargaining in bad faith. They also say that the company will not force any current employees to work a 12‐hour shift, with the proposal to create a 12‐hour shift applying only to new employees hired after January 1, 2026.
In a written statement, the company claims that it has reached many tentative agreements with the union, some of which include wage and benefit increases and a modified proposal for a 12‐hour shift. They also say that they continue to bargain with the union in good faith.
“We are disappointed that the union has rejected the Company’s fair and equitable offer,” said Bradley Joseph, Perrigo’s vice president of corporate communications, in a statement to Documented. “To continue providing consumers with our important self-care products, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure product availability, including adding new team members. Importantly, no union members have been displaced at this time.”
During his speech, Mamdani vowed to continue to fight alongside the workers.
“When Perrigo workers have the audacity to, in the language of management, ask for what they are owed, we will stand alongside them,” he said. “This attempt by management to already hire scabs shows the lack of goodwill at these negotiations.”
Mamdani’s presence seemed to energize many of the workers in the picket line. He was the only mayoral candidate visiting that morning. One of the workers, Johannes Cameron, an immigrant from Jamaica who previously told Documented on Friday that he was planning to vote for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said he will now vote for Mamdani.
“After today, he really inspired me to vote for him,” Cameron said. “He’s also an immigrant from another country, and he understands. Not a lot of politicians came out to us, and he was one who gave us support.”
