90 days to make difference to Derby

By Diana Holland

This Saturday thousands of people will join Bombardier workers and their families as they march through the centre of Derby. Their demand is simple – they want a future.

That future was pitched into horrendous uncertainty when the government revealed last month that the country that invented the railways could soon lose the ability to manufacture trains.

The award of preferred bidder status for the billion pound Thameslink contract to Munich-based Siemens, rather than Derby-based Bombardier, has shocked the people of this city, from worshippers at the Cathedral in the heart of town to football fans at Pride Park.

1,400 workers now have two months to try to fend off the jobs’ axe. More than 400 of these will be highly skilled engineers – just the sort of workers we need to get the country back on its feet.

Even worse the Derby plant – which currently turns out 26 new trains a week – will start to hit the buffers by Christmas.

All it will have left is the current London Undergound contract which requires a vastly reduced workforce. That project runs until 2014, and unless new business is found the plant will be forced to close shortly after that.

And as a result thousands more could lose their jobs in an area battered by the recession.

This is a real test of the government and their hitherto absent but oft-promised growth strategy. Bombardier has a dedicated, highly skilled and productive workforce building high quality trains that meet local market demands. It plays a key role in the local economy supporting thousands of jobs in supplier and related companies.

So if a successful manufacturer cannot attract government support what hope for the rest of UK manufacturing?

And if a city like Derby can come second best to Munich in the government’s affections, then what hope for the other towns and cities trying to fight their way out of this recession?

It does not have to be like this.

Other European countries have an industrial strategy that promotes advanced manufacturing – the presence of one is why Germany remains an industrial powerhouse.

Last week a report from Manchester University’s Centre for Research in Socio-Cultural Change argued it made ‘economic sense’ to award the deal to Bombardier once benefits – including retaining local employment and skills, the tax revenues derived from UK employment and the indirect effect on the rail engineering supply chain – are all considered.

That evidence needs to be considered.

The deal is not yet sealed, the government must take into account the social and local economic impact if it is to make a proper informed decision.

The Daily Mirror also revealed that the government’s weak claim that it was tied by the tender document drawn up by the previous government was not the case.

The leaked document shows the secretary of state has the flexibility to review the criteria and award the contract to Bombardier.

For too long the UK’s industrial policy has been to let manufacturing wither on the vine.

For years government didn’t get it, and Labour was almost as bad as the Tories.

But Labour finally got it, possibly too late but at least in the last days of its government, Peter Mandelson – perhaps influenced by what he had seen as trade commissioner – started to focus on promoting industrial activism.

At a time of economic despair, this is what we need government to use its office and purchasing power for.

So what if it is decried as government picking winners.

We need an active choice to support local successes, real jobs that added real value to the local economy and companies that developed, built and delivered world class products.

Sadly, that didn’t happen last week. When I met with the transport secretary Philip Hammond recently he made the astonishing admission that the government did not assess the social and economic impact of excluding Bombardier from the Thameslink contract.

At a time when our economy is so fragile you would think this government would be doing some joined up thinking to support jobs. But Prime Minister David Cameron snubbed the Bombardier workers.

Bombardier is sadly this year’s Sheffield Forgemasters. It is another example of the ConDem government just not getting it. Another world-class company pitched into uncertainty by a hands-off government.

Last March chancellor George Osborne concluded his budget statement with a manufacturing mantra:

“We want the words ‘Made in Britain,’ ‘Created in Britain,’ Designed in Britain,’ ‘Invented in Britain’ to drive our nation forward. A Britain carried aloft by the march of the makers. That is how we will create jobs and support families.”

Nice words George but they are sounding very hollow here in Derby.

Thousands of jobs are at stake; a successful manufacturer will hit the buffers unless the government acts; but all we get from Hammond is hand-wringing about the rules.

The march through Derby will be a genuine coming together of this community. Party loyalties will be set aside. Friends and neighbours will walk in support of the pride of the city.

Their demand will be a simple one: Government, show some backbone.

Join us at Derby city centre – July 23rd 2011: March and rally to Back Bombardier