Jobs assurance for Bombardier staff

By Alan Jones, Press Association Industrial Correspondent

Workers at train-builder Bombardier were today given confirmation that their short-term future was secure, providing a "breathing space" for the firm's main UK plant.
A series of employee meetings at the Derby plant heard that the Canadian company was retaining its design, engineering and manufacturing facilities.
Bombardier lost a lucrative GBP1.6 billion contract to build trains for the Thameslink route through London, when the Government awarded the work to German rival Siemens.
Unions and politicians launched a campaign to try to reverse the decision and attacked the coalition for not giving the contract to Bombardier.

Diana Holland at the July 2011 Bombardier rally in Derby

Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland said today:
"Bombardier's Derby workforce are highly skilled and make fantastic products. They've had a lot to endure over the past 12 months. Now at least there is some breathing space.
"The Government cannot afford to repeat the mistakes it made over the Thameslink contract in future procurement decisions. We are not asking for favours, we are asking for fairness.
"The Department for Transport must now construct the bidding process for new train contracts so that UK-based manufacturers can compete on a level playing field.
"The Government must take the social impact of its decisions into account and keep an eye on the wider industrial strategy, which is allowed under EU rules. The Government must also focus on a manufacturers' ability to build trains rather than the ability to raise cash.
"It is time to listen to the recommendations made about the Thameslink contract by the Transport Select Committee at the end of last year. The coalition has a duty to create the right conditions to support the UK's skilled manufacturing base."
Around 1,000 contractors and 200 permanent staff have been laid off at Derby since the Thameslink decision, leaving a workforce of just under 1,600.

http://mediapoint.press.net/article.jsp?id=8157184

Coalition not off-the hook over Bombardier

Unite, Britain's biggest union, has welcomed reports that Bombardier's Derby site has been secured for three years but warns that the coalition government should not be let off the hook.

Britain's last train maker needs a significant contract for the company to have a long-term future.

The plant was under review after the Tory-led government controversially awarded a £1.6 billion order for the Thameslink route to a consortium led by Siemens.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "This is good news but it should not let the government off the hook. If the coalition had done the right thing and awarded Bombardier the Thameslink contract  the company  would have years of work, instead of being given a brief respite."

"Britain's last train-maker needs to win a significant contract for it to have the long-term future it deserves. The government must to everything possible to support this strategically important manufacturer. Unite will keep fighting for the future of British train manufacturing."

TUC comes to Derby to see the impact of spending cuts on the city

Frances O'Grady, TUC Deputy General Secretary

TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady is today (Wednesday) visiting the Midlands as part of a nationwide tour to see at first hand the impact of government spending cuts upon jobs and services across the UK. Since May Frances and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber have been travelling to various parts of England to meet workers and service providers whose lives and jobs have been affected as a direct result of government austerity measures.
Today’s visit to the Midlands kicks off at the Bombardier factory in Derby where Frances, accompanied by recently-appointed TUC Midlands Regional Secretary Rob Johnston, will meet managers and reps from the Unite and RMT unions. Whilst at the Litchurch Road site they will hear more about the ongoing campaign to save the 1,400 jobs now set to go at the factory because of the government’s decision not to award the Thameslink contract to the firm.
It’s then on to a lunchtime meeting of the region’s union leaders at Derby’s Hallmark Hotel on Midlands Road where Frances will learn more about the local impact of cuts and how plans for the TUC day of action for pensions justice on 30 November are progressing.
After lunch it’s off to JET, a charity based in Normanton Road in the south of the city, where Frances will meet with Mohammed Sharief the head of the charity. JET works closely with local unemployed residents to help them find work and access training opportunities.
The final stop of the day will be the city’s Silk Mill Industrial Museum which was mothballed earlier this year by Derby City Council. Here there will be a photo opportunity with some of the workers who lost their jobs in April when the museum closed its doors.
Commenting on the visit Frances O’Grady said: “Across the country, public sector workers are losing their jobs and vital services are being closed or cut back as the true impact of the government’s spending cuts starts to bite.
“Meanwhile the government’s fixation with deficit reduction is having a devastating impact on unemployment and job prospects, particularly for our young people, and the economy is struggling to get back on its feet. The UK desperately needs an economic plan B, one which puts growth and jobs at its heart. Without this the people of Derby and the rest of the UK will have little to look forward to.”
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said: “Derby has been at the forefront of the government’s self-defeating austerity measures – from the closure of the Silk Mill Museum that houses much of the city’s industrial heritage, to the ill-thought out Bombardier factory decision. The people of Derby have not had a good time in recent months.
“While Frances is here she’ll spend the day talking to ordinary residents and businesses to find out more about the impact that the government’s spending cuts are having here and across the wider Midlands region.”


Details of the visit (all timings are approximate):
10.30am–12.30pm: Bombardier, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AD
1.00pm–2.30pm: Meeting with union regional secretaries from across the Midlands – Hallmark Hotel, Midlands Road DE1 2SQ
2.30pm–3.30pm: JET, 284 - 286 Normanton Road, Derby DE23 6WD
3.45pm–4.30pm: Silk Mill Industrial Museum, Silk Mill Lane, off Full Street, DE1 3AF


NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Interviews and photographs with Frances can be arranged through the Midlands TUC.
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Johnston T: 0121 236 4454 M: 07879 497291 E: rjohnston@tuc.org.uk
Alan Weaver, Midlands TUC Press and Campaigns T: 0121 236 4454 M: 07771 778694 E: aweaver@tuc.org.uk

Bombardier Poll result

Commenting on our first snap poll which closed yesterday, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said, "We are pleased that we saw so many of you vote about an issue of such importance, not just to Bombardier workers in Derby, but for anyone involved in manufacturing."

The question we posed was, " Should the government support midlands manufacturing by rethinking the decision not to award the Thameslink contract to Bombardier in Derby?"

An overwhelming number of you said "Yes" with only three people voting "No" or "Don't know" Some 224 people voted "Yes" to our question.
Look out for our next poll which shall be coming shortly.

Bombardier Poll

We have added a new snap poll to the blog - Should the government support midlands manufacturing by rethinking the decision not to award the Thameslink contract to Bombardier in Derby?
Have your say in the poll on the left hand side of the blog - we can take the results to the Bombardier rally in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Blogger is great  - but occasionally hard to read, so answers run from the top -Yes, No, Don't know.

Birmingham for the Alternative update

As the day of the Birmingham for the Alternative march gets closer, the final arrangements have been made to make this a highly visible event and a key element in the Midlands TUC campaign to promote an alternative to the governments policies of slash and burn.
We are delighted to announce further speakers including the General Secretary of the RMT, Bob Crow. Bob has been a key player in the campaign to keep midlands jobs at Bombardier in Derby, together with the TUC's Frances O'Grady who has made significant interventions to support local rail jobs.
Both will be speaking at the rally in the Ludgate Hill car park at the end of the march.

Thameslink contract reinforces the lack of competition in the rolling stock market

The Thameslink contract will exacerbate the anti-competitive nature of the rolling stock leasing market, says the TUC today (Tuesday) as the issue has been selected by the Labour Party front bench for debate to coincide with a Congress motion about the contract to be moved by ASLEF and Unite.The TUC believes that the Thameslink contract consolidates ownership in the highly concentrated and anti-competitive rolling stock leasing market, and that the government and rail regulators are failing to act to keep the market open.
The TUC had called for the decision not to award the Thameslink contract to Bombardier be referred to the Office of Rail Regulation and the Competition Commission over concerns that the contract potentially takes away fair competition and leaves the market dominated by a couple of providers.
The winning Siemens consortium is part financed by 3i Infrastructure, the Jersey-based private equity firm that also part-owns Eversholt one of the three leasing companies (ROSCOs) which control 95 per cent of UK rolling stock.
TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady cited a Competition Commission report from 2009 that raised concerns about competition in the rolling stock market, even before the Siemens contract was won. Responding to a market investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation, the Competition Commission report found that the concentration of ownership and significant barriers to new entrants contributed to a lack of competition in the rolling stock market.
The TUC also believes that the complexity of the contract and the leasing requirement within it could be seen to favour bidders with existing capital investment functions and higher credit ratings, such as Siemens.
However, in response the Secretary of State and the Office of Rail Regulation chose not to investigate the issue of concentrated ownership arising from the design and award of the contract.
TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O' Grady said: "Awarding the Thameslink contract to Siemens is not only terrible news for the thousands of workers at Bombardier, but it's bad value for money for the government who will be paying out benefits when they should be collecting taxes for workers leading our manufacturing revival.
"We have written to the Secretary of State and the Rail Regulator to raise serious concerns about the awarding of the Thameslink contract, as it consolidates more of the UK's rolling stock into the hands of one company. We are disappointed that the government has side-stepped this issue which has adverse effects on an already anti-competitive market.
"We also believe the way the Thameslink contract has been formulated favours a particularly financial model, which will impact on future contracts such as Crossrail.
"The government hasn't yet signed the final contract and still has time and legal power to re-examine the Thameslink bid."

Loss of Thameslink contract will lead to job losses all around the UK, says TUC

Commenting on the results of a business survey published by Unite today (Tuesday) which shows that there will be job losses throughout Bombardier's UK supply chain following the government's decision not to award the company the Thameslink contract, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The government's short-sighted approach to procurement is causing economic shocks that are reverberating through Britain's supply chains. The award of the Thameslink rolling stock contract to competitors in Germany is hitting jobs and business not only at Bombardier's plant in Derby, but among their suppliers throughout the UK.
"This truly is a false economy. What may seem like short-term savings for the Exchequer are causing long-term losses for the UK as we continue to shed skilled jobs in key sectors of our economy.
"With economic growth virtually at a standstill, the government urgently needs an effective industrial strategy that brings jobs and business back to our manufacturing sector. The government must use its spending power to invest in getting our economy back on track and people back to work.
"Tomorrow MPs will hear industry experts, business representatives and unions all make the case for reviewing the Thameslink decision. It is still not too late. We urge the government to reconsider its position and do what is best for our jobs, communities and economy."

For more information go to:
The detailed findings of the survey are available at http://survation.com/2011/09/bombardiersiemens-supply-chain-survey-by-survation-for-unite-%e2%80%93-tuesday-september-6th/
For more details please contact the Unite press office.
The Select Committee hearing on the Thameslink contract takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) morning in Westminster. To coincide with the meeting, the RMT will be bringing together representatives of the Derby Bombardier workforce, councillors, MPs and unions representing Bombardier staff. For more information please contact Geoff Martin in the RMT press office on 07831 465 103 or email G.Martin@rmt.org.uk

Derby rallies for Bombardier

Thousands of people attended today's march and rally in support of the threatened Bombardier plant in Derby. Trade unionists and their families showed their support for the workers by marching through the centre of Derby to the applause of shoppers in the city.
The protesters heard from a range of speakers including Colin Walton, who heads up Bombardier, Tony Woodley and Bob Crow. Diana Holland spoke as did both local MP's, Chris Williamson and Margaret Beckett.
The fight to save Bombardier will continue over the summer to ensure that the proud tradition of building railway carriages continues - and that 170 years of railway manufacture does not come to a  premature end.

Bombardier march and rally this Saturday

The campaign to keep rail jobs at Bombardier in Derby rises to a new level this Saturday as thousands of trade unionists and their families will march in support of the beleagured rail manufacturer and the trade unionists who work there. The march will be one of the biggest in Derby for many years.

More information is available at the Unite website: http://www.unitetheunion.org/news__events/events/support_the_march_and_rally_to.aspx

The march will take place from the Bass Recreation Ground, assemble from 10:00 a.m.

Rally at the Silk Mill Museum.

See you there!

Lee Baron, Chair, Midlands TUC

Following the decision to axe 1,400 jobs at Bombardier following the loss of the Thameslink contract to Siemens, Lee Baron, Midlands TUC Chair, has written to Adrian Axtell of Unite offering support. The letter is reprinted below.

Dear Adrian,
As the current chair of the Midlands Region TUC I am writing on behalf of all affiliates to offer our support for colleagues at Bombardier following the devastating news that Siemens will be given preferred bidder status in the forthcoming Thameslink Contract.
This body blow and the subsequent shock to a workforce that has such a proud history has been felt across the entire movement and it is essential now that we do all we can to support your campaign and keep the work at Bombardier.

The following announcement in relation to the 1400 job losses whilst the rest of the Bombardier operation is reviewed demonstrates the lack of thought that has gone into this process. The jobs outside, dependant on orders from Bombardier, compound the job loss issue across the entire region.

In light of that we will be urging all affiliates to sign up to the campaign, the petition and join you at the demonstration being organised for July 23rd.

Please pass on our support, solidarity and fraternal best wishes to all at Bombardier and let them know we stand shoulder to shoulder with you.

Yours fraternally

Lee Barron

Chair, Midlands Region TUC

Unions announce demonstration in Derby over Bombardier job cuts

Unions announce demonstration in Derby over Bombardier job cuts and demand halt to tendering and publication of key facts.
Unions representing the Bombardier workforce in Derby confirmed today that they will be mobilising a mass demonstration on Saturday 23rd July in the city in protest at plans to axe over 1400 jobs as a result of the Governments’ refusal to award the company the Thameslink carriage contract.
Details of the timings and the route of the Derby protest are still being agreed with the police and the council and further details will be available shortly.
Meanwhile, rail union RMT demanded a halt to the tendering process after it emerged that Bombardier have been put on alert as “ reserve bidders” in the event of something going wrong with the Siemens bid, fuelling union suspicions that the final contract has not yet been signed off and opening up the possibility for the Government to reverse their decision.
RMT is also demanding publication of the tendering evaluation as part of the statutory consultation on redundancies required by another Government department. RMT is specifically seeking justification for the Government claim that the Siemens bid represents “value for money”for the British taxpayer in light of the destruction of 13,000 jobs in and around Derby as a direct result of the plans.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“On the 23rd July we intend to bring the whole of Derby out onto the streets in protest at plans that would destroy core manufacturing industry and 13,000 jobs in and around the city. This act of political and industrial vandalism would impact on every single person in the area.
“We also want this process stopped and stopped now to allow us to look in detail at this wholly spurious claim that the Siemens bid represents “value for money”. As part of the redundancy consultation it has to be justified that this is a genuine and unavoidable redundancy situation - we do not believe that it is as the workforce are actually the victims of a political stitch up.

Unite launch Bombardier petition

Following the decision by the government to award the Thameslink contract to Siemens, and the subsequent decision by Bombardier to annuonce 1,400 redundancies, Unite have launched a petition to "Keep UK Rail Manufacturing on track". Please sign the petition and forward to everyone you know.
http://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/keep_uk_rail_manufacturing_on.aspx

TUC condemns Thameslink decision as a huge blow to British manufacturing

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.'