[publictransport] The Age: Union calls for probe into awarding of trains contract

[cfsmtb]

Article about questioning a State Governments train contract.

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Union calls for probe into awarding of trains contract
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/union-wants-probe-into-awarding-of-trains-contract/2008/02/10/1202578589776.html

Union bosses have slammed the Victorian government's decision to award a 
$360 million contract to build 18 new trains to a French manufacturer.

The Australian Workers' Union said local workers were being deprived of 
local jobs and skills development opportunities, after French firm 
Alstom successfully bid to build the new trains for Melbourne's 
metropolitan network.

"We understand the tender from Alston included two options - the trains 
could have either been made in Victoria by local workers or made 
overseas," AWU Victorian secretary Cesar Melhem said.

"We are extremely disappointed that the public transport minister chose 
the overseas option, instead of supporting local jobs."

The AWU is demanding Premier John Brumby launch an inquiry to review the 
contract decision because it failed to "measure up to the government's 
commitments on increasing local participation and jobs on major projects".

"In an era when major companies such as Mitsubishi are shedding good 
Australian manufacturing jobs, the last thing we need is for governments 
to also turn their back on local workers," Mr Melhem said.

"Whenever there is an opportunity to create jobs in our backyard, it 
should be given the thumbs up."

A state government spokeswoman said the tender was limited to two 
companies, Alstom and Siemens, to ensure the government could increase 
capacity and services for Melbourne commuters as quickly as possible.

But she said a Victorian company was still contracted to deliver eight 
trains for the state's regional rail network.

"Alstom and Siemens ... have built the most recent trains operating on 
Melbourne's network which have current approvals from the safety 
regulator," she said.

"The additional eight V'Locity carriages recently funded by the 
government were added to an existing order with local manufacturer 
Bombardier for the same reasons, to ensure that regional train 
passengers will benefit from extra capacity as soon as possible.

"On balance, the government decided that providing Victorians with extra 
capacity on the metropolitan and regional train systems as soon as 
possible was the highest priority."




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