Alstom workers travelled to Paris to protest about planned closure

The meeting with Amicus follows news that Alstom plans to switch production of London Underground trains to the continent with the loss of more than a thousand jobs.

Workers from the Washwood Heath site travelled to Paris in July to protest outside the company's annual general meeting.

The French owned company has decided to move production abroad despite winning a �100m contract to build carriages for the London Underground Jubilee Line.

Britain helped build the transport infrastructure for the world and we are not prepared to sacrifice that history without a fight Tom Keogh, Amicus Regional Officer

The existing Jubilee carriages had been built at the Birmingham site but Alstom is instead planning to build the Jubilee carriages in Spain.

The problem, according to the company, is that the work being carried out at the plant at present on Virgins high tech Pendolino leaning trains will finish in September 2004 and the work for the Jubilee line trains won't come in until February 2005.

However, Amicus claims the real reason for closing the Washwood Heath site is the inadequate employment protection laws in the UK unlike those in the rest of Europe.

Tom Keogh, Amicus' regional officer, said: "This meeting is a review stage to look at what is happening and the outcome for our members.

"Eighteen years of Tory under-investment has meant that the British train market is the biggest in the world.