Reports emerged last week that Teva may be seeking redundancies in their Waterford facility.
The Munster Express contacted Teva for comment on the issue. Teva confirmed they had begun a consultation process due to changing business needs: “Teva can confirm that we have initiated a consultation process at our Waterford site following changes in our business needs. We are engaging closely with employee representatives, and those potentially impacted, and are committed to conducting this process responsibly and transparently with our colleagues.”
It since emerged that SIPTU were negotiating on behalf of their own members. SIPTU responded with the following comment: “SIPTU representatives have engaged with management at the Teva plant in Waterford concerning threatened redundancies, which could impact members at the pharmaceutical manufacturer.
“SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, Neil McGowan, said: “The company has recently announced its intention to implement a number of redundancies at the plant. This is expected to impact the positions of up to 19 SIPTU members. Union representatives have begun the statutory period of consultation with management on this proposal. As always, SIPTU will aim to protect the jobs of our members and ensure they are adequately represented in this situation.”
The number of temporary staff who will no longer have employment at the Waterford facility is yet to be confirmed.
Teva Waterford
According to the Teva website, Waterford remains integral to their global operations after investment of $40m (American dollars) in the last 7 years.
“Teva Waterford is an integral part of Teva Global Operations (TGO). Since 1985 we have been manufacturing pharmaceutical products and now we make a wide range of inhalation devices on site. Our products are highly complex and we're proud of our technical capabilities which enable us to manufacture combination products through highly automated processes. Our vision is to become the most innovative, most trusted, and most efficient supplier of respiratory products in the industry, improving the health of respiratory patients.”
Waterford scientists routinely use cutting-edge materials characterisation techniques, analyse pharmaceutical performance with ground-breaking automation techniques, manufacture material for clinical trial evaluation in pilot facilities and develop combination product devices to deliver essential medication.
AARON KENT
Funded by The Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
