The Canadian manufacturer Bombardier (turnover
of €13 billion in 2003), one of the main
railway manufacturers, announced in March
that it will cut 6,500 jobs, that is to say 18% of
the staff working in its transport division, so
as to reduce excess capacity.
Seven plants will
be closed in five European countries (Germany,
Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK).
During this time, the financial rescue plan of
Alstom, another large rail manufacturer, was
still debated between the French government
and the European Commission (see EMTA News
n°14).