09.09.11
City lines up behind Bombardier
The campaign to save jobs at Bombardier has achieved virtually unanimous support in Derby, with the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition that rules the city council now considering helping to fund a Unite union challenge to the decision.
Councillors joined Bombardier workers on the train down to London, alongside representatives of the trade unions Unite, TSSA, GMB and RMT and representatives of the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum, the Chamber of Commerce and Marketing Derby bondholders.
Conservative Council Leader Philip Hickson said: “The Government have simply got things wrong with the Thameslink contract.”
“Cabinet Ministers Vince Cable and Philip Hammond wrote to the Prime Minister shortly after the Thameslink announcement, admitting that the Government got it wrong and that it needs to review its procurement processes so that it does not prejudice UK based manufacturing and UK jobs.
“We wrote many times to the Prime Minister, and he eventually replied. Whilst he made some positive noises towards Derby he still refused to reopen the Thameslink decision and, furthermore, refused to visit us in Derby. This is why we have come to London today.”
The campaign also got support from East Midlands Trains, some of whose staff gave up their time to work on the specially-commissioned train from Derby to London, serving tea and coffee and croissants to the campaigners – many of whom had been up since before 4am in order to catch the train.
Commenting on behalf of the Derby Renaissance Board, Bob Betts, Managing Director of Smith of Derby, said: “Any business in Bombardier’s position would be furious. The specification for Thameslink was flawed, the Government has admitted such, and it should have the guts and show the strong political leadership to be able to change its mind.”
The unions involved told RTM that the Government’s decision was “absolutely scandalous” and one TSSA representative said the failure to take into account the social and economic impact of the decision on Derby and the wider UK, in terms of job losses, lost taxes, skill loss and unemployment benefit, was disastrous.
Derby’s political leaders, across all the main parties, have directly criticised Prime Minister David Cameron over the “perverse” decision, and the council has agreed to work with Unite if its lawyers decide that the union has an “arguable case”
It commits the council to working with Unite if lawyers agree Unite has an arguable case.
For more of RTM’s coverage of the protest, the select committee hearing and the future for Bombardier in Derby, visit www.railtechnologymagazine.com
(Image copyright Kevin Owen of Bombardier, visit http://kevinjowen-madeinbritain.blogspot.com/ )
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