The next event in the battle to save Hillside Engineering workshops will see supporters taking to the streets in a rally.
Rail and Maritime Transport Union South Island organiser John Kerr said the event would be held in the central city on Saturday, July 9. Details were yet to be confirmed.
"Hundreds [of people] are not going to be enough," he said.
"We are going to need thousands" to ensure KiwiRail and the Government heard the crowd's message.
Through a public meeting this week, a petition and the rally, the union is hoping to convince KiwiRail to overturn its decision to cut 40 jobs at the Government-owned plant, and commit to building rolling stock there.
Union delegates will meet KiwiRail again on Tuesday as part of the consultation process.
"We are going to be asking some pretty searching questions. We don't believe they have taken into account the downstream economic and social impacts of their decision," Mr Kerr said.
The petition, distributed to local businesses and organisations, had attracted more than 400 signatures so far, with an estimated further 3000 yet to be handed in.
