BARNARD Castle’s GlaxoSmithKline factory has been dealt another blow after shocked staff were told 50 jobs face the axe.
The pharmaceutical giant confirmed last week that it plans to shut its service delivery centre, which is based at D Block.
The centre is responsible for graphic design and proof-reading. The firm said the work is being outsourced.
The news comes just five months after GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) bosses said 200 jobs were at risk at the site.
Staff were told about the latest job cuts, which are on top of the previous announcement, at a meeting last Thursday (October 18).
One affected worker said the announcement had “come out of the blue”.
A spokesperson said: “GSK is proposing to outsource some packaging and artwork activities for consumer products that are currently carried out by a team located within our Barnard Castle pharmaceuticals factory.
“We will do all we can to support employees who are affected by this decision.”
The spokesperson added that the decision has no implications for the company’s manufacturing operations in Barnard Castle, which makes up the vast majority of activities at the site.
A £92million aseptic sterile facility is being constructed at the factory.
He added: “GSK employs 17,000 people in the UK and has a substantial manufacturing presence.
“Since 2012 we have invested approximately £1.5 billion in our UK manufacturing sites.”
The Barnard Castle plant, in Harmire Road, employs about 1,100 people.
Business advisor John Atkinson, who has 20 years’ experience of working with business people in the dale, described the news as sad, particularly in the run up to Christmas.
He said: “It is always a sad story when you hear about jobs lost in Teesdale and GSK tend to be well paid jobs
“ It is bad news and new opportunities may require them [those made redundant] to travel or relocate, which is not good news for Teesdale.
“As someone who has gone through redundancy on two occasions, it is a terrible shock when it happens.”
He added, however, that the jobs that are being lost are in the design sector, which is in demand.
