CTU supports campaign to build rail rolling stock in NZ 3.5.10

The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed the launch by the Rail and Maritime Transport (RMTU) of a campaign to build rail rolling stock in New Zealand.

The CTU attended the launch of the campaign this morning which builds on the economic impact assessment by BERL on behalf of the Dunedin City Council and the RMTU.

Peter Conway, CTU Secretary, says: “We have the people, we have the expertise, we have the engineering capability and we have local suppliers to build the Electric Multiple Units for Auckland right here in New Zealand.”

KiwiRail workers in Hillside and the Hutt are already building and refurbishing trains. The BERL reports shows that the economic benefit to New Zealand to build the Auckland trains here could be up to 1270 jobs and a $250 million addition to economic growth.

Peter Conway said that KiwiRail should not rule themselves out of this bid.

“Of course there has to be a robust tender process. But an analysis of the ‘whole of life’ cost of building and maintaining these trains in New Zealand makes for a strong business case. And when we add in the economic benefits to the whole community the case is overwhelming.”

It is recognised that even if KiwiRail did undertake this manufacturing around 30% of the total cost would be captured offshore. But as BERL pointed out the key question is how New Zealand can lock in the other 70% for the sake of jobs and engineering capacity in New Zealand.

For further details on the campaign see:

http://www.rmtunion.org.nz/articles/article-building-rolling-stock-in-nz.php