Uniting to save jobs

Unite today announced (Friday January 22) it is joining forces with European counterparts in a bid to save former Alstom workers from redundancy – in the wake of the recent General Electric (GE) takeover.

Up to 600 workers could go at former Alstom sites in Bristol, Dartford, Stafford, Rugby and Newcastle after GE announced plans earlier in January to axe up to 6,500 jobs across Europe.

Meeting with their counterparts from other European unions at a European Works Council, Unite reps agreed to ‘refuse all job redundancies’ and ‘contest all strategies that would have the direct consequence to lose jobs.’

“We have major concerns that GE is cutting too far, too fast and leaving the newly merged company exposed to future skills shortages,” said Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou.

“The workers facing redundancy are highly skilled with years of knowledge and expertise. They care deeply about the company and have grown increasingly concerned about the business case underpinning GE’s restructure.”

She added, “Over the coming weeks we will joining up with our European counterparts to press senior management for greater clarity over their plans which appear to be little more than a crude cost cutting exercise with no thought of the consequences for the business.”

Pic – Alstom Stafford site