Jobs blow at AstraZeneca

yakub qureshi

January 31, 2008

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CEO: David Brennan

HUNDREDS of scientific jobs at one of the region's most prominent businesses are to be cut.

A total of 244 job could be cut from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca's research facility in Alderley Edge.

The site is used to research a number of future treatments including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs.

The announcement to staff at the multinational came as the firm announced a disappointing fall in its global profits.

Restructuring

Although the company would not confirm the number of cuts being proposed, a spokesman admitted that talks had begun on restructuring its world-wide research operations.

The firm employs 5,000 in Cheshire at sites in Alderley Park and at a manufacturing site in Macclesfield.

Some 3,500 of the jobs are involved in scientific research, with many employees recognised as key researchers in their fields.

Linda McCulloch, from the Unite trade union, said officials would be meeting company chiefs next week to mitigate job losses.

She said: "Pharmaceutical research is vital to the industry itself and to the overall prosperity of the UK. We believe that the loss of these highly skilled roles will have long term detrimental effects on the economy and the UK skills base.

"Unite also has concerns that people will be deterred from studying science subjects in school and university which again will have damaging consequences of the UK's ability to compete in the global economy."

What do you think? Have your say

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Bomber Harris, In Exile.West Germany (31/01/2008 at 18:50)

Bloody Disgrace!Globalisation.Nokia Germany.One Company after another.Greedy Bosse's will stop at nothing.Cheshire has been hit once again!

Rugbygirl, Urmston (01/02/2008 at 08:10)

I got made redundant last year from a company in Trafford Park. We were also German owned.I have also heard of other German owned companies sacking the English workforce because our laws make it far easier! Is this the Germans new way of gaining global domination?

Bomber Harris, In Exile.West Germany (01/02/2008 at 09:43)

Rugbygirl!You are wrong on that point about English Workers being sacked
first.I've been a Trades Union Convener
for 20 years here in Germany.You are right about Glogalisation being the main reason.Company after Company are now moving to the Eastern Countries.To boost their already fat Turnovers.

Black Sabbath (01/02/2008 at 09:43)

I too was employed by a German-owned company some years ago....I too was made redundant....pattern emerging here!

Macc Girl (01/02/2008 at 10:01)

Enough of the conspiracy theories, Astra is a swedish company.

The Bobelesque (01/02/2008 at 10:35)

I hate to add fuel but I work for an English company - and I haven't been made redundant!

ace, manchester (01/02/2008 at 16:27)

Isnt it great being part of this great club that everybody raved about called the EU? it was to be our saviour instead its been the making of france and germany who have made a lot of work for their own people and lots of money for their own companies at the cost of the british people and jobs.won lost the war?????? us AND NOT A SINGLE SHOT WAS FIRED....

Calamity (01/02/2008 at 19:17)

I worked at the Alderley Park site as a scientist on contract. I was paid a pittance, much less than the permanent staff, despite having had many years scientific research experience. I had been made redundant as I could not get a further grant at Manchester University. At AZ contractors were seen as totally dispensable. The permanent staff didn't fare much better, although they were paid a lot more. A project could be closed down with little notice and the people who had been on it told to find a job in another department in the company. I know when one one department closed the staff were told they would have to relocate to America if they wanted to stay in their particular line of research. I eventually ended up working down South, and still am. The contractors down South get paid more than permanent staff and there are lots of jobs. Makes me sad that there are so few Pharma companies in the North. When AZ was ICI, and taken over initially, by Zeneca there was a cull and many lost their jobs. About time more was invested in British Pharma companies, instead of being wasted on pointless wars.

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