Hitachi Rail Europe

Type
Internal restructuring
Country
United Kingdom
Region
North East (England); Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear; Durham
Location of affected unit(s)
Newton Aycliffe
Sector
Manufacturing
(29 - 30) Manufacture for transport equipment
30.2 - Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock
30.20 - Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock
250 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
9 January 2020
Employment effect (start)
9 January 2020
Foreseen end date

Description

Hitachi Rail Europe has announced that it will cut 250 permanent jobs in its rail manufacturing and assembly plant in Newton Aycliffe in the North East of England. The 45-day compulsory consultation process with employees and trade unions has already started. In a statement, the company explained that the job cuts are part of a restructuring plan that aims business flexibilisation and insisted that the company has a reputation for investing in its workers.

The Unite Union finds the news disappointing and blames the government policies for the redundancies, arguing that procurement policies for transport infrastructure favour overseas businesses. 

Hitachi Rail Europe is part of Hitachi Group, the Japan-based global technology firm, which has 4,000 employees in 33 countries. In UK, the company produces rolling stock and signalling services across 15 locations.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Hitachi Rail Europe, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 99713, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/99713.