Pharmaceutical plant axes 240 jobs

Some 240 jobs were tonight axed at a pharmaceutical plant as fears grew over the future of a bathroom products maker.

US-based Schering-Plough announced plans to close its operation in Bray, Co Wicklow, in two years.

Meanwhile management at Qualceram Shires in nearby Arklow are locked in talks after it requested a suspension of its shares on the Dublin and London stock exchanges.

A spokesman said the firm was trying to secure the future of the group and 100 jobs in the region.

Pat Kerr, general manager of Schering-Plough Bray which manufactures veterinary products, said the decision to close the plant was a direct result of global over-capacity and was no reflection on employees.

“We very much regret the impact this decision may have on our colleagues and their families,” said Mr Kerr.

“We will do everything we can to support people with career advice and personal counselling.

“The planned closure date is by mid-2011 and we do not anticipate redundancies in the coming 12 months or so.”

Schering-Plough said it remains committed to its 1,000 employees in its facilities in Brinny, Co Cork, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and the recently acquired Organon facility in Swords, Co Dublin.

Siptu said the closure was disappointing for workers – some who worked at the plant for over 20 years – but came as no great surprise.

Branch organiser Kieron Connolly called for workers to be retrained over the next 24 months.

“This is a high quality workforce which needs to be brought back into the active employment as soon as possible,” said Mr Connolly.

“Wicklow has suffered a 100% increase in unemployment in the past year.”

Labour Party Wicklow TD Liz McManus branded the job losses at Schering Plough a disaster for the town and area.

“While the headline job-loss figure is bad enough, there will also be knock-on effects in employment in local suppliers, and in the local retail and commercial sector,” she said.

“My thoughts first and foremost are with those workers in the plant who are to be made redundant, especially at a time when it is likely to be particularly difficult to for them to get back on their feet in the short term.”

The Labour Party TD said unemployment had already doubled in the town over the last year, and she highlighted high-profile job losses such as the announcement that Dell is to shed 200 jobs in nearby Cherrywood.

Ms McManus urged Enterprise Minister and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan to come to Bray and see the situation on the ground.

“She needs to put in place a high level implementation team, to map out a jobs strategy for Bray, and to deliver on employment for the area,” she said.