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'Scunnered': Scotland's Steelopolis nears end of the road 'Scunnered': Scotland's Steelopolis nears end of the road
(about 7 hours later)
Walking out of Motherwell’s Dalzell steelworks into the sharp autumn sunshine, one man summed up the mood of the workforce concisely: “Scunnered.”Walking out of Motherwell’s Dalzell steelworks into the sharp autumn sunshine, one man summed up the mood of the workforce concisely: “Scunnered.”
Others coming off the morning shift were similarly winded at confirmation from the steel firm Tata that it is to close its two plants in Scotland, losing 225 jobs at the Dalzell plate rolling works and another 45 at the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang near Glasgow, and effectively ending Scottish steel production.Others coming off the morning shift were similarly winded at confirmation from the steel firm Tata that it is to close its two plants in Scotland, losing 225 jobs at the Dalzell plate rolling works and another 45 at the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang near Glasgow, and effectively ending Scottish steel production.
Andrew Crawford, who began work at Dalzell at the age of 20, nearly three decades ago, said he was devastated by the news, which was delivered to workers on Tuesday morning. “My dad worked there. I’ve had friends just retire and there are kids in there with young families.”Andrew Crawford, who began work at Dalzell at the age of 20, nearly three decades ago, said he was devastated by the news, which was delivered to workers on Tuesday morning. “My dad worked there. I’ve had friends just retire and there are kids in there with young families.”
Related: Tata Steel confirms 1,200 job losses as industry crisis deepensRelated: Tata Steel confirms 1,200 job losses as industry crisis deepens
Crawford said the management had offered little hope: “They as good as said it was the end of the steel industry in Scotland this morning. The way they spoke about the Chinese imports, that’s how it was explained to us.” Crawford said the management had offered little hope: “They as good as said it was the end of the steel industry in Scotland this morning, the way they spoke about the Chinese imports. That’s how it was explained to us.”
Dalzell Steel and Iron Works opened in 1872 and by the first world war had become the largest steelworks in Scotland, providing plates for the thriving shipbuilding industry on the river Clyde.Dalzell Steel and Iron Works opened in 1872 and by the first world war had become the largest steelworks in Scotland, providing plates for the thriving shipbuilding industry on the river Clyde.
Once the steel production capital of Scotland, Motherwell was nicknamed Steelopolis and its skyline was dominated by the gasholder and three cooling towers of the Ravenscraig plant, the closure of which in 1992 signalled the end of large-scale steelmaking in Scotland.Once the steel production capital of Scotland, Motherwell was nicknamed Steelopolis and its skyline was dominated by the gasholder and three cooling towers of the Ravenscraig plant, the closure of which in 1992 signalled the end of large-scale steelmaking in Scotland.
John Pentland, Labour MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, explained: “The people here are still recovering from the closure of Ravenscraig. It shattered this area and we are still picking up the pieces.John Pentland, Labour MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, explained: “The people here are still recovering from the closure of Ravenscraig. It shattered this area and we are still picking up the pieces.
“Steelmaking is just as iconic as Irn Bru to Scotland. If you allow the steel industry to die you are putting all those skilled people on the scrapheap.”“Steelmaking is just as iconic as Irn Bru to Scotland. If you allow the steel industry to die you are putting all those skilled people on the scrapheap.”
Pentland, himself a former steelworker, added that if all else fails the Scottish steel industry should be brought back into public ownership. “The Scottish government can intervene and support strategic assets when they are threatened, as it has shown several times. It acted when Prestwick was threatened; it acted when Fergusons was threatened; it acted when Grangemouth was threatened; and it can act again, to save our steel industry.”Pentland, himself a former steelworker, added that if all else fails the Scottish steel industry should be brought back into public ownership. “The Scottish government can intervene and support strategic assets when they are threatened, as it has shown several times. It acted when Prestwick was threatened; it acted when Fergusons was threatened; it acted when Grangemouth was threatened; and it can act again, to save our steel industry.”
Speaking outside the plant shortly after the announcement, John Clark, the multi-union chair for Dalzell workers, offered David Cameron some advice for his meeting with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.Speaking outside the plant shortly after the announcement, John Clark, the multi-union chair for Dalzell workers, offered David Cameron some advice for his meeting with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.
Related: British steel has been left weak by cheap Chinese competitionRelated: British steel has been left weak by cheap Chinese competition
“David Cameron is putting out the red carpet for the Chinese president. He should be putting demands on the table instead. He must see that this has been an ongoing situation and we have been trying to make the UK government aware of the situation for over two years.”“David Cameron is putting out the red carpet for the Chinese president. He should be putting demands on the table instead. He must see that this has been an ongoing situation and we have been trying to make the UK government aware of the situation for over two years.”
Clark said he “absolutely” believed there was still a future for steelmaking in Motherwell and that the priority now was to find a buyer for the plant. “We are putting our faith in the Scottish government. We think this has still got a future and with investment we can still turn the corner.”Clark said he “absolutely” believed there was still a future for steelmaking in Motherwell and that the priority now was to find a buyer for the plant. “We are putting our faith in the Scottish government. We think this has still got a future and with investment we can still turn the corner.”
But Tor Farquhar, human resources director for Tata Steel Europe, said he was pessimistic that both mothballed Scottish plants would ever reopen. But Tor Farquhar, human resources director for Tata Steel Europe, said he was pessimistic about whether either of the mothballed Scottish plants would ever reopen.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she would visit both sites on Thursday, as the Scottish government confirmed plans for a steel taskforce to seek alternative buyers for the works and support those facing redundancy.First minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she would visit both sites on Thursday, as the Scottish government confirmed plans for a steel taskforce to seek alternative buyers for the works and support those facing redundancy.
Sturgeon said: “We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to keep the plants open and support the 270 staff affected by today’s announcement.”Sturgeon said: “We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to keep the plants open and support the 270 staff affected by today’s announcement.”
Entering the works for his afternoon shift, John McKenna, who worked at Ravenscraig before joining Dalzell eight years ago, was more optimistic: “I’m disappointed they’ve decided to treat us this way, but I think there’s definitely a future if someone is in their right mind to take this on. There’s a good workforce here. There’s a future if the government wants to make it that way.”Entering the works for his afternoon shift, John McKenna, who worked at Ravenscraig before joining Dalzell eight years ago, was more optimistic: “I’m disappointed they’ve decided to treat us this way, but I think there’s definitely a future if someone is in their right mind to take this on. There’s a good workforce here. There’s a future if the government wants to make it that way.”