UNITE congratulated the “tenacity” of its activists yesterday after General Electric’s (GE) Rugby plant was saved.

Employers announced in November that the site was earmarked for closure.

But the site’s 250 workers were told yesterday that the government had given the green light to an order for new motors to be built there.

The news comes after months of campaigning from members, including giving testimony at a House of Commons defence select committee hearing.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “If it had not been for the tenacity of Unite’s shop stewards and members we could have been looking at confirmation that GE’s Rugby site would close and its work be shipped abroad.

“Unite’s priority is now to reduce the number of potential redundancies at the site and secure its long-term future.

“We urge the government to build on today’s announcement and ensure vital skills and knowledge are not lost for a generation by working with us to ensure the site has a pipeline of work for years to come.”