240 'HIGH-QUALITY' JOBS GO.

Byline: SARAH STACK

MORE than 200 jobs faced the axe at a pharmaceutical plant last night.

US-based Schering-Plough announced plans to close its operation in Bray, Co Wicklow, in two years, leaving 240 staff jobless.

Meanwhile, management at Qualceram Shires in nearby Arklow are locked in talks after it requested a suspension of its shares on the Dublin and London stock exchanges.

A spokesman said the firm was trying to secure the future of the group and 100 jobs in the region.

Pat Kerr, general manager of Schering-Plough Bray which manufactures veterinary products, said the decision to close was a direct result of global over-capacity and was no reflection on employees.

He added: "We will do everything we can to support people with career advice and counselling.

"The planned closure date is by mid-2011 and we do not anticipate redundancies in the coming 12 months or so."

Schering-Plough said it remains committed to its 1,000 employees at its facilities in Brinny, Co Cork, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and the recently-acquired Organon plant in Swords, Co Dublin.

Siptu branch organiser Kieron Connolly called for workers to be retrained over the next 24 months.

He said: "This is a high-quality workforce which needs to be brought back into the active employment as soon as possible."

Elsewhere, financial consultants Ernst & Young revealed its workers will have their salaries reduced by 7.5 per cent from July 1, except those earning less than EUR40,000 a year.