Fears for future of 180 jobs in Galway company review
The future of jobs at a major multinational company, which has been based in Galway for over 40 years, is up in the air again.
The workforce at Beckman Coulter fears the worst after being briefed about a ‘review of operations’ currently being undertaken by its US-based parent company.
The biomedical company has had roots in Mervue since 1972.
The Galway operation, a huge employer on the east side of the city with between 160 and 180 on the payroll, is one of Beckman Coulter’s largest European manufacturers of diagnostic reagents and rotor products.
The plant supplies product across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
The IDA-supported company also has a substantial research and development base in Mervue, and has collaborated with NUI Galway on research programmes.
Almost three years ago, an axe hung over the Galway operation as Beckman Coulter proposed to move its operation to Clare, about 15 miles from Ennis, just past the town of Tulla.
The Galway workforce escaped the chop and the planned ‘consolidation’ did not go ahead.
However, there are renewed fears among employees this week that redundancies are on the cards following the company review.
Sources at Beckham Coulter say they have been told by management that staff will be briefed on the outcome of the review in mid-October. The Clare facility is owned by Beckman but Galway is rented.
The last review included both operations but this time round it is understood that just Galway is being reviewed. The previous review carried out at the company in Galway involved local management but managers at Galway are not involved in the current review, which has heightened staff fears.
Many staff have up to 20 years service with the company, and a half dozen are so are due to retire this side of Christmas.
It is understood trade unions met with management, yesterday, Monday.
Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel