Pfizer to cut around 330 jobs in Italy, unions say

ROME, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Pfizer will cut around 330 jobs at its plant in Sicily, trade unions said on Wednesday, making the US drugmaker the latest international company downsizing its Italian operations. 

Talks in Rome between Pfizer and Italy's industry ministry late on Tuesday did not yield results, the CGIL, CISL and UIL unions said in a statement. 

• The Sicily plant currently employs 550 people, unions said

• "Pfizer remains committed to supporting the ongoing discussions and remains open to evaluating any concrete and sustainable alternative proposals", it said in a statement

• Italy's industry ministry said Wednesday's discussions would "serve as a starting point for strengthening the dialogue," adding that minister Adolfo Urso would visit the plant on October 23

• Further talks between Pfizer, unions and the ministry are scheduled for November 10, the ministry added

• On Monday, appliance maker Electrolux presented a scaled-down restructuring plan for its Italian operations, with around 1,250 jobs now expected to be made redundant through voluntary exits

• Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson said on the same day that it would no longer fire 131 workers in Genoa, but would handle their exit "through consensual and voluntary" means

(Reporting by Anna Uras; Editing by Cristina Carlevaro, Joe Bavier and Alvise Armellini)