Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Alstom shoots itself in the foot (both actually)
BILL GREENSHIELDS looks at the background of the threat to engineering jobs in Derby's Alstom plant
Alstom’s success in France owes much to the fact that railways there are nationalised [Houss 2020 / Creative Commons]

ONCE again the future of railway engineering in Derby – and the whole of Britain – is under threat, as Alstom, the current transnational corporation (TNC) owners of this vital national asset, set about slashing 1,300 workers from its 2,000-strong workforce, making future operations unviable.

But a public community campaign has been launched by the Derby People’s Assembly to back up trade union efforts to prevent the job losses and potential closure. A People’s Assembly petition – supported by the trades unions’ social media – has attracted 1,500 signatures in just a few days and continues to pick up momentum. https://chng.it/xBK9wjp8zK 

Back in 2011 the industry faced a very similar threat when the then owners, Bombardier – another TNC – took a similar position when the Tory government placed a contract for trains with its TNC rival, Siemens.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Construction workers during the installation of the first high speed railway platforms for the HS2 project at Old Oak Common station, west London, May 29, 2025
Features / 11 July 2025
11 July 2025
Long-planned and organised annual Derby Silk Mill Lockout March, Rally and People’s Festival /Pic: Author supplied
PREVIEW / 23 April 2025
23 April 2025

BILL GREENSHIELDS invites all and sundry to this years’ Derby Silk Mill Lockout March, Rally and People’s Festival on June 7

A piper walks the platform alongside the Avanti West Coast Class 390 EMU train as it arrives at Glasgow Central Station from London Euston, failing to break the 36-year-old record for the fastest train journey between London and Glasgow, June 17, 2021
Railways / 8 May 2025
8 May 2025

Our groundbreaking report reveals how private rail companies are bleeding millions from public coffers through exploitative leasing practices — but we have the solutions, writes Aslef Scottish organiser KEVIN LINDSAY  

A train crosses over the Ribblehead Viaduct with the snow ca
Editorial: / 13 February 2025
13 February 2025