Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, is in Derby has given his full support to the battle to save Bombardier.
Len McCluskey met with union representatives and with Bombardier management on 11 July.
Unite is campaigning to save the UK’s last train maker and is ‘determined’ to try to find ways to protect the skilled workers who face redundancy as a result of losing out on the Thameslink contract.
Unite, is organising a major rally in Derby city centre in support of Bombardier workers on 23 July and has called on the government to rethink its decision.
The event will involve high profile speakers and is expected to attract thousands of supporters who will express their ‘anger at the government’s decision’.
Last week Bombardier announced 1,400 job cuts as a result of losing the Thameslink contract.
Although Bombardier has enough work to sustain their manufacturing base until late this year, its order books will be empty from then on. This, therefore, ‘puts all 3,000 jobs at significant risk, plus those in the supply chain’, the union said.
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said:
“The workers at Bombardier face a very uncertain future but they have Unite’s full support. We are going to fight for them and back them all the way.
“The Government’s excuses just do not stand up to scrutiny and we believe the coalition should re-think its disastrous decision.
“We want to work with the company to find ways to protect jobs. The weight of public opinion is on the side of Bombardier and we expect thousands of people to attend Unite’s rally later this month in support of the UK’s last train manufacturer.”
