Pfizer To Close Its Groton Manufacturing Site

[The Voice of Reason]

http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews...0,5828352.story

company did not indicate in its notice to the labor department, dated March 6, when the layoffs would take effect, but in the case of a mass-layoff, involving more than 50 workers at one site, a company must give at least 60 days notice.

This is bad, but I guess its a drop in the bucket concidering they have 6000 jobs in the area.

I think it makes sense to eliminate more and more of their manufacturing in CT. its an expensive place to manufacture. The good news is that they have their high paying research jobs in Groton and New London. I hope this company recovers. they have been having a very hard time since Viagra and lipitor lost patent.

[Lowerdeck]

I'm just afraid that Southeastern Connecticut might be throwing too many eggs into one basket (the casinos/tourism). The economy in Norwich/N.L.-Groton needs to be more diverse in order to be successful. The military nearly pulled out a couple years ago, which would have been a disaster... but thankfully they kept the naval base open.

Dodged a bullet up in Massachusetts the other day, when Deval Patrick's casino plans were shot down. I'm sure it's not officially dead, but anything which prevents something up north from opening to rival Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods is good. It's bad enough Yonkers Raceway is taking away revenue from the NYC area, and Twin River from PVD/BOS. Rather see that money in Connecticut.

[The Voice of Reason]

I'm just afraid that Southeastern Connecticut might be throwing too many eggs into one basket (the casinos/tourism). The economy in Norwich/N.L.-Groton needs to be more diverse in order to be successful. The military nearly pulled out a couple years ago, which would have been a disaster... but thankfully they kept the naval base open.

Dodged a bullet up in Massachusetts the other day, when Deval Patrick's casino plans were shot down. I'm sure it's not officially dead, but anything which prevents something up north from opening to rival Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods is good. It's bad enough Yonkers Raceway is taking away revenue from the NYC area, and Twin River from PVD/BOS. Rather see that money in Connecticut.

[Lowerdeck]

Well, I'm just afraid that something big would leave southeast CT (usually the fear is the Naval base and/or EB), and then the region starts to suffer as a result, in which case the area starts to rely on 1-2 industries to keep it afloat.

I've also never really heard the Coast Guard Academy as being a major player in the region, like the casinos or the Naval base/EB or Mystic tourism or Pfizer.

[JimSawhill]

We still need to support small manufacturing business. There is still some manufacturing done in CT (and one is Thomas Faria, a maker of gauges for boats, based in Uncasville). We still need to help manufacturers, because Connecticut should NOT shortchange the manufacturers. Still the highest paying jobs are in the manufacturing industries.

[Chessplayer]

I've heard from a family member, a Pfizer employee, that more (big) cuts are on the way for the New London/Groton area. The company's troubles have been all over the news, so this is probably already out there.