Alstom employees and union representatives rallied outside Western District MP Jaala Pulford's office on Wednesday, continuing their declared campaign to force the state government to commit to the future construction of X-Trapolis trains in Ballarat.
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Representatives from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, the Electrical Trades Union and the Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council joined about 30 workers outside the Dana Street office of Minister Pulford to present the government with a resolution calling for continued negotiations with the train builder to ensure manufacturing continues.
Ballarat Trades Hall secretary Brett Edgington called on speakers from across the unions and workshop, who in turn warned the government workers were feeling vulnerable as Christmas approached and contracts for future work remained unresolved.
"At the moment we've got no future path to the end of February," said RTUB member Luke Cornish of the government's negotiations.
"You said you were going to do something; you said the (work)shops weren't going to shut, but it's getting pretty close and we're getting pretty agitated."
Mick Roberts said the workers were united, standing strong together and turning up to the fortnightly rallies to maintain pressure.
"Christmas is just around the corner; pull your finger out and get us an answer," Mr Roberts said.
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ETU representative and organiser Damian King spoke in favour of the resolution, saying Ms Pulford was elected in 2014 on a Labor ticket of a continuing pipeline of work at Alstom.
"A proper, organised, structured pipeline of work where manufacturers and workers could have certainty in terms of planning and long-term jobs," Mr King said.
"That was the policy, that was the platform when she stood for Parliament... Labor politicians, politicians of every stripe, need to be held accountable."
A government spokesperson for the Minister for Public Transport said in a statement that local workers were a priority, and discussions with Alstom were continuing to get the best outcome.
"We urge Alstom to work with us in ensuring a long-term pipeline of work and certainty for workers," the spokesperson said.
Since 2015 the government has invested $470 million in Alstom-built trains.
