Alstom workers highlight job fears

Unite union members gave up their lunch break to stage a demonstration outside the factory gates as part of a European day of action to highlight the threat to jobs since large parts of the Alstom business were taken over by GE late last year.

The unions claim 6,500 jobs could go across Europe, with 570 at risk at the former Alstom sites in Rugby, Stafford, Bristol, Dartford and Newcastle.

By being in their own lunch break the demonstration does not count as industrial action but still got the message across to the traffic flooding past.

Unite regional officer Zoe Mayou, pictured front left, said: “I’m really pleased with the turnout and good to see support from colleagues at other GE sites.

“We are concerned about the propsect of job losses and delayed consultation, it’s left people in limbo.”

The European Action Day saw Unite work join forces its European counterparts.