Following a meeting between trade unions, the TUC and transport secretary, Philip Hammond, Unite has pledged to continue the campaign to ‘persuade the government’ to re-open its decision not to make Bombardier preffered bidder for the Thameslink contract.
Diana Holland, Unite assistant general secretary, said:
“It was an astonishing admission that the government did not assess the social and economic impact of excluding Bombardier from the Thameslink contract.
“At a time when our economy is so fragile you would think this government would be doing some joined up thinking to support jobs.
“Philip Hammond continued with the same excuses saying that the decision was out of his hands. We believe there is still time to support Britain’s last train manufacturer and to reverse this disastrous decision.
“Unite along with the other unions, the TUC, politicians and the local community will continue to fight for jobs at Bombardier and are in the process of taking legal advice on challenging the way the decision to award the contract to Siemens was reached.”
Unite is organising a major rally in Derby city centre in support of Bombardier workers on 23 July in a call on the government to rethink its decision.
