Bombardier's short-term future secure
Train-maker Bombardier has confirmed to staff that it will be staying in Derby for the next three years.
At a series of employee briefings held at the firm’s Litchurch Lane plant, bosses told workers that the factory would remain open until 2014.
-
Bombardier has been given "breathing space"
But it warned that it would need to win new work if it was to remain open in the long term.
Bombardier lost a lucrative £1.6 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.
Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland said: "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."
Pauline Latham, MP for Mid-Derbyshire, said the news was "absolutely superb."
She said: "I am delighted that Bombardier has been secured for the next three years.
"It is of course, extremely important that Bombardier continue to get new orders on their books.
"Derbyshire was delighted to hear of Bombardier’s recent successful bid for a £188 million Southern Railway contract, and I am sure that they will continue to move forward with similar winning bids."
RELATED ARTICLE: February 9, 2012 Bombardier's Derby factory `set to stay open' say unions
RELATED ARTICLE: January 6, 2012 Shock figures that reveal `true cost' of giving Siemens Thameslink deal
RELATED ARTICLE: July 23, 2011 Derby stands united as 10,000 join Bombardier rally
RELATED VIDEO: July 26, 2011 A city speaks out
RELATED IMAGES: The Bombardier story in pictures
2 Comments
by dianae
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:49PM
“Ministers who oversaw the rubbish procurement procedure have not been worried over the last 9 months about not having their pay packets. Their failure has been rewarded - like bankers.
Mrs Latham is hopefully doing all she can to ensure that future contracts are either not handled by the civil service or are handled competently with the true cost of contracts being a deciding factor - rather than just making comments for the DT.
Siemens who were preferred because of superior financial strength still haven't sorted their package yet. So they don't have product or finance but remain preferred bidder - crazy”
by itsmemarko
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:39PM
“Gosh what a surprise NOT......this place is more like the hockey coky ...we take them on we lay them off.”