Pfizer to lay off 25 workers in Wheat City
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/05/2010 (5634 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A decreased need for pregnant mares’ urine has led to the anticipated layoff of about 25 employees at the local Pfizer manufacturing plant, company spokesperson Lisa Ross says.
Of the 170 employees, the layoffs mark an approximate 15 per cent cut, although Ross says the company continues to review its operations and has scheduled meetings with employees to discuss the reductions.
An annual inventory assessment and facility review showed Pfizer, previously Wyeth Organics, that less PMU collection is needed for the production of the company’s Premarin family of products.
"This is due to changes in market demand and a shift toward lower doses of post-menopausal hormone therapy which resulted in significant levels of inventory now requiring less active ingredients extracted from the PMU," Ross said in an email to the Sun.
As a result, the company will also decrease its PMU production by approximately 60 per cent through a reduction in the number of ranchers in its network.
The reductions mean that of the 64 contracts awarded in 2009, only 26 will be renewed; 22 of which are based in Manitoba and four from Saskatchewan.
Norm Luba, executive director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council says although the cuts hurt the industry, he’s confident the PMU business will remain viable.
"The estrogen the ranchers produce continue to go into the No. 1 hormone replacement product on the market," Luba said.
In 1995, ranchers like Luba experienced a 50 per cent reduction in the amount of contracted grams of PMU required when the required dosage of estrogen in hormonal replacement therapies was cut in half.
"(Pfizer) continues to look at science … I have to believe that there continues to be a good reason to have the product and as such it will be around for decades," he said. "But does the inventory need to be managed, and align with science and demand? Absolutely, we get that."
The reduction will impact one of the three production facilities in Westman.
Pfizer is offering the 38 turfed contractors an exit package worth 75 per cent of their 2009 contract agreement.
The company has also set money aside to cover costs incurred for transportation and veterinary bills those exiting the industry require when they sell their stock.