We were off the grid most of yesterday, with other duties.
Even so, courtesy of Ed Silverman at Pharmalot, we were alerted yesterday morning to a smallish follow-up piece on Merck's agreement to continue discussions, and negotiate in good faith -- at least through December 31, 2010 -- as to the fate of the 4,500 Organon R&D workers in Oss. [Here is the Radio Netherlands source item -- do go read it all]:
. . . .Merck is willing to talk with interested parties about a long-term solution. The company may even invest in a science campus. However, there are no guarantees that all jobs will be saved as Organon will still have to undergo a reorganisation. It is not clear how many jobs may have to go. The minister says a deadline of 31 December to find solutions still stands.
The recently announced plans caused commotion among staff, who threatened legal steps against mass sackings. . . .
This came after a visit by a Dutch official to Whitehouse Station, to discuss the plight of the workers, according to Radio Netherlands. Earlier reports have it that the "other Merck" -- KGaA, in Germany -- might venture, or partner-up to ultimately assume the operation, en todo. We'll keep you posted. That "other" Merck KGaA is reeling from yesterday's Cladribine EU washout -- KGaA's once-vaunted MS drug candidate. So we shall see.
2 comments:
an earlier report mentioned that each day several workers would march to city hall. did that ever happen?
Indeed, it did.
It was well underway, when Merck agreed to renegotiate -- I suspect it was having a reputational influence on MSD (Merck's EU subsidiary name) in the Dutch papers, and TV.
I think -- but do not know -- that the "relay march" protests you ask about have been suspended, during the pendency of these talks, at least through December 31, 2010.
Hope this helps.
Namaste
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