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UNIONS called on shareholders of Britain’s biggest drugs company AstraZeneca yesterday to reject a “final” takeover bid by US predator Pfizer.
AstraZeneca’s board rejected a “final offer” of £69 billion — but Pfizer is attempting a backdoor buyout by leaning directly on shareholders.
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke told shareholders to avoid the temptation to “take a quick buck.
“The company has a long-term plan and we would urge shareholders to back the workforce and the board,” he said.
“The latest offer from Pfizer still raises more questions than it answers.”
Mr Burke said a takeover would not only destabilise the company but undermine Britain’s science and research base.
There are also fears that a statement from AstraZeneca boss Leif Johansson that the latest bid “undervalues the company” might be a veiled invitation for a higher bid.
Pfizer bosses refused to guarantee at a Parliamentary committee last week that it would keep jobs and work in Britain.
Despite that, Tories ministers have refused to intervene to the stop the sale.
GMB national officer Allan Black said their position revealed it was unions standing up for Britain rather than the government.
He said: “We continue to believe that there is a strong public interest argument in sustaining Britain’s high end science and stopping the slide towards an economy built on cutting each others hair and selling each other insurance policies.”
Mr Black added he was meeting AstraZeneca workers this week to co-ordinate the continuing campaign to stop the company being “plundered.”
