Pfizer expects to add 230 roles at Grange Castle and Ringaskiddy

PFIZER is set to seek 100 redundancies at its manufacturing plant in Newbridge as part of a global cost-cutting plan.

However, the pharma giant expects overall growth in manufacturing operations next year, including an additional 230 roles at its Grange Castle and Ringaskiddy sites.

It is understood that most of the jobs in Newbridge will be voluntary redundancies, but some will be compulsory.

The Newbridge site impacts approximately 100 colleagues who work on the manufacture of Pfizer’s covid antiviral treatment.

Siptu, which has almost 700 members at the Kildare site, said the news will be of huge concern to the workers, their families and the wider community.

Divisional organiser, Greg Ennis, said he believes around 100 redundancies will be sought as part of a €3.27bn global cost-cutting plan announced last month.

A Pfizer spokesperson said onsite operations were expanded in 2021 to meet pandemic needs but, considering the lower-than-expected utilisation for its Covid products, production is now scaling down due to poor uptake.

The company has launched an “enterprise-wide cost realignment programme” to operate more efficiently and effectively.

Pfizer expects overall growth in manufacturing operations next year, including an additional 230 roles at its Grange Castle and Ringaskiddy sites.

“We will be engaging with our colleagues and their representatives as applicable in relation to the planned changes,” she said.

“Pfizer’s manufacturing sites in Ireland play a key role in the manufacture of many of our leading and newest medicines.

“We have invested €8.4bn since operations began in 1969 and remain committed to expanding our Grange Castle site as announced in 2022,” said a Pfizer spokesperson.

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