GLAXO has refused to rule out cutbacks at its Port Fairy pharmaceuticals factory as part of a massive global restructure.
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The British multinational announced extensive cutbacks to its American operations in recent weeks with its Australian management neither confirming nor denying domestic changes.
Unions have called for Glaxo Smith Kline management to outline what the massive restructure will mean for the Port Fairy plant, which has operated in the town for nearly a century.
In a statement prepared by GSK, the Australian arm has stated the aim of its “global restructure program” was to improve performance by taking “unnecessary complexity out of operations”.
“We are currently working through what this may mean for GSK Australia,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.
“We are committed to making decisions in line with our values and that support the future needs of our business in GSK Australia.”
The Standard understands nine Port Fairy employees in the factory’s production unit have been laid off in recent months, although it was unrelated to the present worldwide round of cutbacks.
South West Trades and Labour Council secretary Marg Donehue said the statement from Glaxo Smith Kline failed to provide certainty to employees and their families.
She said the company needed to be clear whether they intended to maintain the status quo, lay off workers or close the factory altogether.
“Whether it is good news or bad news, employees deserve to know what the company’s plans are,” Ms Donehue said.
“If Glaxo has made these large-scale changes overseas, then Australia will obviously be looked at too.
“The statement they have provided is incredibly vague. If there were no changes you would think Glaxo would be clear to make that point and make it strongly.”
Glaxo announced earlier this month it would slash about 900 American jobs in marketing and research in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Some of the cutbacks were to be made through a hiring freeze while other positions were to be shifted to the company’s American headquarters in Philadelphia.
Changes were also slated for the GSK’s British and European arms.
The Port Fairy factory opened in 1920 as a milk drying processor jointly controlled by British company Glaxo and what was known as the South Western Co-Operative Milk and Trading Company. Glaxo Smith Kline has three other factories located throughout Australia.
