Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced plans to lay-off up to 785 workers in Ireland. The company said it will close two plants in Ringaskiddy in Cork, and a third in Dún Laoghaire in Dublin. It also intends to reduce operations in Newbridge, Co Kildare. The Ringaskiddy closures - the biotechnology plant in Shanbally and the Loughbeg tablet manufacturing site - will see 75 and 225 job losses respectively. The closure of the Dún Laoghaire site will see 210 layoffs, while 275 jobs will go in the Newbridge manufacturing plant. Pfizer, Ireland's biggest multinational employer, made the announcement this afternoon as part of a restructuring of its operation. The company currently employs 5,000 people across 13 sites involved in manufacturing, research and development in Ireland. Pfizer global manufacturing president Nat Ricciardi said restructuring the plant network worldwide was critical to remain competitive in the environment. 'We are keenly aware of the impact these types of changes have on employees and their families,' Mr Ricciardi said. 'We will provide support to our colleagues who lose their jobs so that their transition to new careers is as smooth as possible.' Workers at Pfizer were summoned to a meeting this afternoon amid speculation about potential jobs cuts. 6,000 jobs to go globally The company says the cuts, related to its merger last year with Wyeth, will take place over the next 18 months to 5 years. It will cut 6,000 manufacturing jobs globally, or 18% of its manufacturing workforce by the end of 2015. Pfizer will end operations at at its eight manufacturing plants in Ireland, Puerto Rico and the United States. Currently Pfizer has 78 manufacturing plants around the world. It will also reduce operations at six other plants in Germany, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Britain and United States. The news comes after last year's announcement that Pfizer was to merge with another multinational pharmaceutical company, Wyeth. That takeover was worth $68bn (€55bn).
workin the newbridge plant ..275 jobs to go by end of 2013..not too sure yet if it effects me or not. they were supposed to announce this in feb and kept putting it back. no one knew which of its irish plants were going to stay going or to shut. 785 jobs all together is shocking.
Yes sad news indeed. The plant in Dunlaoghaire has only more or less just finished being totally overhauled with new buildings etc.
Didnt they buy out Wyeths? Used to work on the Grangecastle site when it was in construction. Place is massive. Sad news. Hope theres not too many affected by this on here.
My mate used to work in the Newbridge plant..He got out last year or so and went to work some where in Carlow instead..He is lucky he got out at the time he did.. Sad that another big firm to Ireland is letting so many go..
I've two mates working in the Newbridge plant, they've been worrying about it for months but don't think they thought it was going to be on this scale. Rough as fcuk, sad day indeed for many workers
2 Billion that plant cost, should mean they plan on being there for awhile, you would hope so anyway.
Very sad, a lad I work with missus works in the Newbridge plant, everytime I hear of redundecies i just think if its its 100 then its 100 families that it hurts, scary times we live in.
Everyone says its gonna pick up and i think ya hear it so often that you assume it will although if ya look at the facts and figures its getting worse!!i wonder when will it get to the stage when people think maybe it wont turn around..a hundred years ago uruguay were a massive economy until it collapsed of course
Know a few in the Cork plants alright. tough for em. these were the jobs would have been thought as bein safe as houses!!. the knock on effect on indirect jobs will bring that number well over 1000 if they all go.