ALBANY –  In a personal letter to A.G. Lafley, CEO of the Procter & Gamble Company, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer Tuesday urged the company to reconsider its plan to close the Norwich Pharmaceuticals plant. Procter & Gamble is currently in negotiations with an unidentified “global biopharmaceutical company” on a plan which could result in the closing of the Norwich facility and a loss of 180 local jobs.

“Chenango County and Upstate New York have the most talented and productive pool of workers anywhere. Proctor and Gamble should stop negotiating in secret behind closed doors and give Chenango, Norwich and New York a chance to compete and win. P&G needs to take a pause, rethink its plans and stay right where they belong: in Norwich,” said Senator Schumer. “I hope Procter & Gamble recognizes how difficult is it to replace the skilled workers they employ from Chenango County and how foolish it would be to leave this region in the midst of a series of vital improvements to its transportation system, including Route 12, which will only make the region even more economically attractive.”

Norwich Pharmaceuticals is a vital component of the region’s economy and business landscape and has a long history of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Norwich area dating back to 1855.  Procter & Gamble acquired Morton-Norwich’s operations in 1982. However, this month it was announced that P&G is in negotiations to close the plant and relocate the 180 jobs it currently has in Norwich.