GSK to axe 130 jobs at two plants

HEALTHCARE giant GlaxoSmithKline said it remains committed to its Irish operations despite announcing that 130 people are to lose their jobs in the next four years.

The cuts at the multi-national’s two plants in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, were confirmed to staff at a general meeting with management yesterday.

A total of 82 people are to be made redundant in the next two years while 48 more will be cut when the company shifts the manufacture of some of its Panadol products from Dungarvan to Spain between 2012 and 2014.

About 570 jobs will remain in Dungarvan following the redundancies and the company is to meet with union representatives today to discuss implementation of the cuts.

Company vice-president and site director Mike Willison described the job losses as “regrettable” but said they were part of a cost-containment package aimed at achieving “significant savings” in overheads.

“Our aim is to remain focused on the long-term future of the site and ensure that we remain competitive,” he said.

The announcement came following a restructuring review of operations at GSK’s Dungarvan plants, which manufacture oral care products in one centre and painkillers at another.

Some of the over-the- counter medications made in the company’s Dungarvan base include Panadol and Solpadeine, while denture care items include Poligrip and Polident.

GlaxoSmithKline has more than 1,500 people on its payroll in Ireland — almost half of them in Dungarvan where it is the area’s largest employer, with the rest in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.

Following yesterday’s meeting, a number of departmental meetings were also held while the trade union Unite, which represents about 500 of the staff, had a meeting of shop stewards last night to discuss the development.

Unite regional organiser Tony Kelly said staff were in shock.

“This is a very difficult day for workers who have contributed without fail to the continued profitability of the company.”

The union will be using its meetings with management to try and prevent compulsory redundancies and determine the detail of the cuts. “We will work hard to soften what is a terrible blow to those affected and to Dungarvan,” he said.

Yesterday’s news comes three years after GlaxoSmithKline announced a €30 million investment at Dungarvan, with the addition of 50 jobs.