Press Release
Unite invites Secretary of State to listen to workforce
6 June 2008
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for transport has been invited to visit the Derby production facility of train builder Bombardier by Unite the union.
The Transport Secretary has been asked to listen to the workforce's views on eliminating the peaks and troughs in the order book that has blighted the industry for so many years and ultimately led to the Derby site being the only remaining UK builder of passenger rolling stock.
Bob Rixham, Unite National Officer for Railways said: “Our 'trains to be built in the UK’ campaign has been taken to the highest levels of government. Though we support the governments massive financial commitment of tax payers money for the procurement of new rolling stock as contained in the 2007 HLOS, our views are tempered by the fact that our members employed at Derby are currently laid off under a "flex" working arrangement due to lack of orders, whilst orders continue to be awarded to non UK companies.
“Unite is determined to ensure that the UK train building not only survives at Derby, but expands and continues to provide highly skilled, secure employment for our members and for future generations, but for this to happen government must support our train building industry to the same degree as our competitors, I am very hopeful that the SOS will respond positively to our invitation.”
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