The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says it's heartened by the turnout at Saturday's protest rally in Dunedin against plans to axe up to 40 jobs at the city's Hillside Railway Workshops.
At least 1000 people attended the rally, including the city's Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce, Greenpeace and local MPs.
The RMTU says 40 jobs are under threat as a consequence of KiwiRail's decision to buy rolling stock that is made overseas.
The Union's South Island organiser John Kerr says it has been overwhelmed by the community support, and he's confident the public supports efforts to keep the jobs in New Zealand.
Another 30 workers face redundancy at KiwiRail's Lower Hutt workshops, with the final announcement on job losses due later this month.
Mr Kerr says more protest action can be expected, including a picket of the port of Tauranga to prevent a shipment of Chinese-made railway wagons beging unloaded about midweek.
He says more action is planned when a final decision on job losses is announced this month.
However, Chief Executive of KiwiRail Jim Quinn, says he will be disappointed if threatened industrial action over the decision eventuates.
He says the company cannot afford to build the wagons in this country, and he doesn't think the Government will be able to provide further funding.
