Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) released the following statement regarding Pfizer’s announcement today that it is closing all but one of their divisions in Rockland County, leading to the eventual layoff of 1,250 employees.

“Pfizer is being heartless in putting 1,250 loyal employees out on the street in an economy that is only beginning to recover from the worst recession in decades. The Lederle Labs site has been a Pearl River institution for a century and the loss of those jobs and a vital corporate partner will be devastating to the Town of Orangetown and to the school districts which rely on the tax money.

“In a move usually associated with hedge fund operators, Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler recently took a 12.5% raise while laying off people. After successfully blocking drug re-importation and other cost cutting measures by striking a deal as part of the health care reform bill, he and other executives reward themselves handsomely, while the people in Pearl River are forced to tighten their belts.

“Earlier this year Pfizer faced accusations of fraud based on their marketing for Bextra, a painkiller taken off the market for safety issues. Pfizer claimed they were too big to fail and, as reported by CNN (April 2, 2010), cut a deal with prosecutors. Pfizer took advantage of its size to get favorable treatment, something they deny to their less powerful workers.

“I call on Pfizer to think about both the families and community they are abandoning and the legacy of this location, a close partner of Orangetown and the children of the school districts for over a century.”