UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 08, 2020 / Unite the union has today (8 October) reacted to the news that Progress Rail Services intends to make 147 workers redundant by closing its South Queensferry site by the end of the year. The redundancies are due to commence on 30 November with the last proposed dismissals due to take place before the end of the year.

The union has made a direct plea to the Scottish and UK Governments to intervene to support high-quality jobs stating that if the site were to close then it would be another ‘massive blow’ to Scottish manufacturing and the nation's domestic rail infrastructure. The South Queensferry facility can produce castings up to five tonnes in weight in a variety of steels from austenitic manganese to Argon Oxygen Decarburisation (AOD) refined stainless steel.

Progress Rail Services acquired the Scottish based manufacturing business in 2011. The company which has manufacturing sites across the UK is facing closure following an indicative decision by Network Rail to award a 5-year contract to overseas suppliers. Progress Rail employs 450 people throughout the UK. The announcement follows the decision by Wabtec to close its Kilmarnock factory in March this year, which refurbished high speed train carriages leaving around 100 workers unemployed. In July 2019, another key part of the rail transport infrastructure was lost as the Caley Rail works in Springburn closed with 200 highly-skilled direct and indirect jobs lost to the industry.

Unite industrial officer, Graeme Turnbull, said: “The news that Progress Rail Services is closing its South Queensferry site is a massive blow to Scottish manufacturing. Around 150 highly skilled jobs are on the brink of being lost over the coming months, which is why we are calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to immediately initiate discussions with the company and Unite to see what measures could be brought forward to keep the site open.  It’s depressing news to see a successful UK based manufacturer that has supported this country’s rail infrastructure for over 100 years being faced with closure. The loss would mean that the entire UK network would be fully dependant on imported railway components, which would be a further travesty following the closures of Wabtec and the Caley Rail works.”