UP TO 70 staff are to lose their jobs at a vaccine manufacturing facility in Sligo.
Staff at Elanco were told today that around 35-42% of the workforce would be shed in the coming weeks at the plant.
The decision has been called a “major blow” by local Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Healy.
He told TheJournal.ie that manufacturing in the region had taken a number of blows in recent years.
“Any employer getting rid of that many jobs in Sligo is a huge blow.”
In 2010, the company invested in a centre of excellence at the site, securing 120 jobs. However, they say that the redundancies do not change the site’s mission.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, they said that the factory will remain, but had to be more profitable.
These changes, while very difficult, are necessary to position the facility to continue to provide high quality, cost-effective products for Elanco customers and meet long-term business needs. The site’s mission is not changing. Sligo will continue to operate as the commercialisation and label and packaging hub for Europe.
“At this time, a 30-day statutory consultation phase will commence to help employees understand the changes and examine any options that may be available to them.”
Elanco employs more than 7,000 people worldwide, with offices in more than 40 countries, and is a division of pharma giant Eli Lilly and Company. In 2013, Eli Lilly posted revenue of $23 billion.
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