Pfizer to abandon Catania plant, affecting 370 jobs

According to the unions, Pfizer decided on 29 July 2026 to abandon its Catania site, which is more than 60 years old: 330 permanent staff and 40 fixed-term employees whose contracts will not be renewed are affected, out of 544 people at the plant. There is no plan to convert production; the company intends to sell the site and move parts of manufacturing — including the penicillin line — to China. The unions have called a strike (second source: CataniaToday). UPDATE (30 July 2026): Before the economic affairs committee of the Sicilian regional parliament (ARS), plant director Giuseppe Campobasso confirmed the group's position by video link — the site is to be given up with no reindustrialisation prospect. The previously announced strike had taken place on 22 July 2026, with rallies in Catania and outside the ministry in Rome (source: NewSicilia). Update (22 July 2026): The national crisis-table meeting at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit) ended without result and was adjourned to 24 September 2026. Minister Adolfo Urso called on Pfizer to reverse its decision quickly and reiterated that the site must remain a strategic anchor of the Catania pharmaceutical cluster (source: LiveSicilia). Update (23 September 2026): The Mimit meeting scheduled for 24 September 2026 has been postponed and no new date is known. In a letter to the ministry and the company, the unions (Cgil, Cisl, Uil, Ugl) demand a suspension of the deadlines of the redundancy procedure launched on 2 July 2026, which affects 330 of 540 employees (source: Metropolis Più, 23 September 2026). Update (24 September 2026): The postponed crisis table at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit) has been rescheduled for 6 October 2026; Minister Adolfo Urso plans to visit the Catania plant on 23 October 2026 (Hashtag Sicilia, 24 September 2026, https://www.hashtagsicilia.it/2026/09/24/vertenza-pfizer-fialc-cisal-bene-il-tavolo-al-mimit-lazienda-deve-restare-a-catania/). Update (13.10.2026): The Mimit has convened a new table with Pfizer, local institutions and unions for 20.10.2026 at 3 p.m. — the fourth meeting on the Catania site (La Sicilia, 13 Oct 2026). Update (20 October 2026): at the negotiating table at the industry ministry (Mimit), three international companies expressed interest in reindustrialising the Catania plant. Pfizer committed not to shut down the affected production lines beyond 31 October 2026 until the ministry has concluded talks with the interested parties (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor, 20 October 2026).