Trade unions and workers representatives say they plan to press on with their campaign to save two Swiss plants which the German rail company, Adtranz, intends to close.

Trade unions and workers representatives say they plan to press on with their campaign to save two Swiss plants which the German rail company, Adtranz, intends to close. 750 jobs are under threat at the plants in Pratteln near Basel, and Zurich-Oerlikon.

Toni Patscheider, a member of the workers council at Adtranz Switzerland, was disappointed with Tuesday's meeting with the Adtranz management.

"We didn't get detailed answers to our questions, as set out in our rough rescue plan, which was delivered to the company back in December," said Patscheider, "We are not satisfied as we need these answers to make progress."

However the unions and workers council were pleased to announce the setting up of a 'Start Team'. This will involve management and staff examining the feasibility of saving jobs through setting up a new business and providing compensation for those who lose their positions.

Patscheider said he hoped that some jobs could be saved through reintegrating staff into what remains of Adtranz within Switzerland, and letting them concentrate on producing rail systems for the Swiss market.

Representatives of the task forces set up in the two cantons affected by the plant closures, Zurich and Basel Country, were also at the press conference, and offered their support to the setting up of the Start Team.

The announcement to close the Swiss plants was made back in November by the company's owner, Germany's DaimlerChrysler Group. Adtranz has not made a profit since 1996.

Unions and workers representatives reiterated their intention to go ahead with a demonstration against the job cuts at a rally in Berne this Saturday.

By Tom O'Brien

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