CORK SUFFERED a double jobs blow yesterday when a pharmaceutical company announced it was to cease manufacturing with the loss of 90 jobs in the autumn and a meat processor closed its operations with the loss of 130 jobs.
Corden PharmaChem, which makes active ingredients for the pharmachem industry, announced it was to phase out manufacturing at its plant in Little Island from the autumn with the loss of around 90 jobs.
The company said in a statement that the decision to phase out manufacturing was taken after “a comprehensive review and analysis of its operations” and that the Little Island plant, which employs 97 people, had incurred “substantial losses in recent years”.
“Given current market conditions for its portfolio of products, the limited potential for the development and commercialisation of new products, the scale of the plant and the significant capital investment necessary for it, the Cork operation is no longer viable,” said the company.
Last year Corden PharmaChem was the scene of a fatal explosion involving Liam Nodwell (58). However, a company spokesman said the decision to phase out manufacturing was not related to the incident.
Corden PharmaChem confirmed it was to retain a research and development facility employing up to eight people at the plant which has undergone several changes of ownership since it first opened in 1976.
Corden PharmaChem, which has been owned for the past three years by the International Chemical Investors Group, said a consultation process would begin next week with staff representatives and existing customers on the phasing of the closure.
Meanwhile, Dawn Meats confirmed in a statement yesterday afternoon that following the announcement of rationalisation plans last March, the company was laying off some 65 permanent staff and a further 65 short-term contract workers.
The company pointed out that while these lay-offs will result in the closure of the plant’s deboning operation, the plant will continue to operate its slaughter facility and remains open for business for its large number of cattle suppliers in the region
Siptu branch secretary Ben Weathers said although cattle slaughtering was to continue at the plant, the closure of the meat processing operation was “a sad and grim day for Midleton”.
He said since March the union had been engaged in efforts through both the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court to obtain redundancy terms for workers.
Some 65 members of the workforce at the processing plant were employed directly by Dawn Meats, while the remaining 65 were agency staff with no entitlements, said Mr Weathers.