Siptu seeks Pfizer meeting over 100 Kildare job cuts

James Cox

Siptu is urgently seeking a meeting with Pfizer officials to discuss the future of 100 jobs at the company's manufacturing plant in Co Kildare.

The pharmaceutical giant announced the job losses at its Newbridge facility as it seeks to re-organise its labour division following the Covid pandemic.

It is believed some of the jobs will be moved to other facilities in Cork and Dublin where 230 new positions are to be created by Pfizer.

Greg Ennis, manufacturing division organiser for Siptu, said the company needs to come to the table to discuss redundancy packages for those who will be affected.

Mr Ennis told Newstalk: "One hundred jobs is a big hit on the economy in Newbridge. We believe approximately 70 of those jobs will be direct. In other words, people who are dealing directly with the machinery and the product itself.

"We'll be seeking an urgent meeting with Pfizer to see if we can lessen, or indeed eradicate, the need for redundancies at that facility."