Pfizer job cuts continue

Global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer laid off 201 employees at the end of last week, as the company moved to close three local facilities and reduce staff at a fourth manufacturing plant.

The latest round of layoffs were confirmed by David Champagne, managing director of the NY-based Rouses Point manufacturing facility, yesterday. The layoffs involved 115 union employees at the Rouses Pointfacility and 86 union and management workers at the Chazy research facility, also located in New York.

"It's a tough decision, of course," said Champagne yesterday. "We're trying to make this as easy for our colleagues and people as possible." Champagne added that the last work day for an additional 85 management employees in Rouses Point will be 12 March.

Cutting back

Pfizer, the world's biggest pharmaceutical company, announced last November that it would be closing the Chazy, Plattsburgh and Rouses Point chemical-development facilities. For the manufacturing plant at Rouses Point, a reduction in the number of workers was also announced.

Reports suggest that once the process is complete, about 645 employees will have lost their jobs. In fact, according to Champagne, the ongoing monthly layoffs at the Chazy facility will continue, while the proposed layoffs at chemical development are not expected to start until at least the third quarter of 2010.

Disappointing

After yesterday's announcement, Rouses Point Mayor George Rivers said it's disappointing to see hard-working employees lose their jobs. "Its sad because still can't figure out why they [Pfizer] want to do it. Those are dedicated employees. I wish I had the magic answer."

January saw Pfizer extending its lease of the Rouses Point facility from Akrimax Pharmaceuticals until the end of 2010. It has two additional six-month options that could run through the end of 2011.

Matthew Buttell

Matt Buttell graduated from Bath Spa University in 2006. Since then he has written for several publications, before moving to the web. He now writes solely for the internet, continuing to cover key business issues while managing his own personal blog.

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