The TUC has today (Thursday) condemned the government's failure to award the Thameslink train production contract to Bombardier as a missed opportunity to boost British-based manufacturing and jobs. The TUC fears the promised new jobs in train maintenance will be dwarfed by the potential job losses at the Bombadier plant and in its supply chain.
Losing out on the Thameslink contract puts the future of rail production at Bombardier, the UK's last remaining train manufacturer in serious doubt, and is a devastating blow to British industry says the TUC.
The TUC has campaigned for the government to adopt a more proactive approach in ensuring that UK businesses benefit from public contracts for goods and services. While recognising that the UK must maintain its commitment to open competition and EU regulations, the TUC has argued that more can be done by government to level the playing field and work with businesses to build their capacity to put in effective bids for contracts.
Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'This is a devastating blow for Bombardier and its workforce but also for Derby and the wider UK economy. It is vital that our economic recovery is based on high quality manufacturing jobs that companies like Bombardier supply.
'The Thameslink contract would have secured the future of train production in the UK, so it is astonishing that the government would turn its back on UK manufacturing in this way, at a time when growth is weak and unemployment remains high.
'The government has a key role to play in making sure that UK businesses can compete fairly and effectively for the goods and services that it procures. Once again, the government has acted in a short-sighted and disjointed way with severe consequences for workers around the country.'
Losing out on the Thameslink contract puts the future of rail production at Bombardier, the UK's last remaining train manufacturer in serious doubt, and is a devastating blow to British industry says the TUC.
The TUC has campaigned for the government to adopt a more proactive approach in ensuring that UK businesses benefit from public contracts for goods and services. While recognising that the UK must maintain its commitment to open competition and EU regulations, the TUC has argued that more can be done by government to level the playing field and work with businesses to build their capacity to put in effective bids for contracts.
Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'This is a devastating blow for Bombardier and its workforce but also for Derby and the wider UK economy. It is vital that our economic recovery is based on high quality manufacturing jobs that companies like Bombardier supply.
'The Thameslink contract would have secured the future of train production in the UK, so it is astonishing that the government would turn its back on UK manufacturing in this way, at a time when growth is weak and unemployment remains high.
'The government has a key role to play in making sure that UK businesses can compete fairly and effectively for the goods and services that it procures. Once again, the government has acted in a short-sighted and disjointed way with severe consequences for workers around the country.'
No comments:
Post a Comment