Pfizer workers shocked by closure news

Hundreds of highly-skilled Pfizer workers made their way home in shock tonight after learning they could soon be joining the dole queue.

Many long-standing employees filed quietly out of the multinational’s site in Dun Laoghaire, south Dublin, as the devastating news of closure sank in.

Others expressed hope the 210 job losses – part of restructuring plans to lay off up to 785 workers nationwide – could be avoided if a buyer was found for the manufacturing plant.

“It’s not all black and white until it’s gone. We’re going to be here for another couple of years,” worker Mark Wynne said.

“It’s been in the pipeline for weeks but there’s no one dead, there’s worse things that could happen.

“I think the biggest part of the relief is that people know now.”

Biochemical technician Andrew Perry claimed the workforce’s fate was sealed when the firm bought competitor Wyeth last year.

“If there was anybody who could have bought it they would have by now,” he said.

“We were shocked, we thought our futures were secure, we were told they were secure.”

The father-of-two from nearby Shankill said it would be difficult to find alternative employment.

“My wife is gutted. I’m 52 so what are you going to do,” he added.

“They’re highly trained jobs in there and it’s very well paid.”

Management informed Dun Laoghaire staff of the job losses at a meeting in the staff canteen at lunchtime.

“The message was business as usual, keep going and hope for a buyer perhaps,” said one employee, who did not wish to be named.

“There’s nothing that isn’t hitting a lot of people in the recession.

“At least we had a lot of notice to make arrangements – it’s not a cliff-hanger so it could have been a lot worse.”

Management have said the two closures in Ringaskiddy, Cork and the third in Dublin could take place between 18 months and five years from now.

Dun Laoghaire worker Paul O’Brien said the timeframe gave staff a chance to hunt for new jobs.

“Everybody’s totally gutted,” he added.

“I think a lot of people were shocked but a lot of people felt it was coming as well.

“There’s people working there up to 30 or 40 years, so people were upset.”