The meeting had been called to discuss ways Dunedin people could work together to pressure KiwiRail and the Government to stop the outsourcing of work overseas and to have their new wagons built at Hillside workshops, organiser Kay Murray, of the Alliance Party, said yesterday.
It was a response to Hillside being overlooked to build electric trains for Auckland and the first consignment of 300 new flat-top wagons, she said.
Rail and Maritime Transport Union head Jim Kelly, of Dunedin, and Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said a campaign was already under way behind the scenes to try to secure work for Hillside and associated Dunedin trades companies, either through Hillside directly winning construction tenders or Hillside working with other tenderers.
A consortium of interested people had been meeting regularly since late last year, they said.
It was "working away on practical things around the right tables", Mr Christie said.
The Government has plans to buy 3000 railway wagons in total.
Both men said they were optimistic Hillside would be involved with building some or all of the remainder.
While Mr Christie said he believed some of the wagons could be built at Hillside, Mr Kelly said he would not be satisfied until Hillside had the contract for them all.
Both Mr Christie and Mr Kelly said their organisations would be represented at the meeting, although neither were sure the meeting would achieve anything.
It was "good to keep the pot boiling," Mr Kelly said.
"We need all the public support we can get. It is better having a meeting than sitting on our bums and saying: 'This isn't fair'.
"Hopefully, if enough people back [this campaign] the message will get through and we will win some favour."
Mr Kelly said there was only forward work for Hillside until November and it was important more work was secured quickly.
About 10 staff from the 170-strong workforce had left since Christmas because of uncertainty about the future.
Mr Christie said any initiative "which contributed to the right outcome" must be welcomed.
The meeting will be held at Dunedin Community House, Moray Place, on Tuesday, at 7pm.
