U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, are asking Pfizer Inc.'s chief executive officer to reconsider plans to replace local contractors at its southeastern Connecticut campuses with foreign workers.

In a letter Monday to Jeffrey B. Kindler, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive officer, Dodd and Courtney said they are concerned about a companywide policy dubbed Procedure 117 that would replace local information-technology contract workers at its Groton and New London sites with workers from outside firms, including those from overseas.

On Monday, The Day reported that Pfizer has been training foreign workers at its local sites over the past few months in anticipation of transferring much of its information-technology contract work to outside companies.

Pfizer has thousands of so-called contingent, or contract, workers associated with the company throughout the United States. These contract workers perform jobs in a variety of fields, from information technology to janitorial, cafeteria and clerical roles.

The new policy could force many of these local contractors - some of whom have been working at Pfizer for a decade or more - to leave the pharmaceutical giant by the close of this year.

The New York-based Pfizer is one of southeastern Connecticut's largest employers, with more than 5,000 employed at its sprawling Groton research campus as well as its worldwide research and development headquarters in New London. Kindler is based at Pfizer's global headquarters in Manhattan.

Dodd and Courtney told Kindler, “any reorganization that would result in the loss of jobs for local workers would be troubling, and we would urge you in the strongest terms to reconsider any such action.”

The two said Pfizer's local campuses were of “critical importance” to southeastern Connecticut's economy. Dodd and Courtney expressed concern that Pfizer has not publicly released information about any pending moves concerning contingent workers.

”The only information available has come piecemeal from the workers themselves,” said Dodd and Courtney, adding that such workers are “understandably worried” about the possible loss of their jobs.

In a statement, Pfizer officials said the company continues “to evolve ... to meet global business challenges and look for efficiencies to help better manage operations, which include the use of contract workers on an as-needed basis.”

”Pfizer is proud of our 50-year history as a top employer in the Connecticut. With more than 5,400 workers in the state, Pfizer maintains a strong commitment to our presence in this area,” the statement added.

Dodd and Courtney called on Kindler to disclose how many local contract workers would be affected by the policy change and also asked what compensation would be offered to any Pfizer contractors not rehired because of the shifting of work to outside firms, including those overseas.

”If skilled workers are already available for these jobs locally,” the two asked in their letter, “why does Pfizer find it necessary to hire workers from abroad?”