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| March and rally to support Dalzell and Clydebridge steel plants | March and rally to support Dalzell and Clydebridge steel plants |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Supporters of the two threatened Scottish steel plants have been marching through Motherwell in North Lanarkshire. | Supporters of the two threatened Scottish steel plants have been marching through Motherwell in North Lanarkshire. |
| The event was organised by trade unionists, councillors, Labour Party members, and MSPs. | The event was organised by trade unionists, councillors, Labour Party members, and MSPs. |
| They are calling for action by the Scottish and UK governments to protect the industry and its jobs. | They are calling for action by the Scottish and UK governments to protect the industry and its jobs. |
| About 300 marchers set off at 11:00 from the Dalzell works, heading to Ravenscraig for a rally. | About 300 marchers set off at 11:00 from the Dalzell works, heading to Ravenscraig for a rally. |
| Up to 270 jobs could be lost after Tata Steel announced plans to mothball the plants along with 900 posts at the firm's facility in Scunthorpe. | Up to 270 jobs could be lost after Tata Steel announced plans to mothball the plants along with 900 posts at the firm's facility in Scunthorpe. |
| A total of 225 jobs are threatened at the Dalzell plate-rolling works in Motherwell, along with 45 posts at the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang. | A total of 225 jobs are threatened at the Dalzell plate-rolling works in Motherwell, along with 45 posts at the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang. |
| The company blames cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs for a collapse in steel prices. The Scottish government has assembled a taskforce to try to guarantee a future for the plants. | The company blames cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs for a collapse in steel prices. The Scottish government has assembled a taskforce to try to guarantee a future for the plants. |
| 'Upbeat' mood | 'Upbeat' mood |
| Community union representative Derek Fearon said: "We are trying to raise awareness of the campaign, and hopefully through this Tata will become a responsible seller. | Community union representative Derek Fearon said: "We are trying to raise awareness of the campaign, and hopefully through this Tata will become a responsible seller. |
| "The main aim of the taskforce, the priority of it, is for the two plants to remain open. | "The main aim of the taskforce, the priority of it, is for the two plants to remain open. |
| "The mood is upbeat, the guys are still positive that everything can be done for the two plants to be saved." | "The mood is upbeat, the guys are still positive that everything can be done for the two plants to be saved." |
| One steel worker told BBC Scotland the protest was good for morale as they fight for their jobs. | |
| "We're marching to keep the situation here at Tata in the public eye. To keep people reminded that it's affecting all of us and it's affecting all our families," he said. | |
| "It's looking optimistic today seeing all the support." | |
| The Scottish government has pledged to do everything possible to keep the plants operational, with its preferred option being to find a buyer. | The Scottish government has pledged to do everything possible to keep the plants operational, with its preferred option being to find a buyer. |
| However, ministers have not ruled out moves to bring both facilities under public ownership. | However, ministers have not ruled out moves to bring both facilities under public ownership. |
| A Scottish Steel Task Force, chaired by business minister Fergus Ewing, and including representatives from trade unions and Tata, as well as local councils, met last week to discuss the way forward. | A Scottish Steel Task Force, chaired by business minister Fergus Ewing, and including representatives from trade unions and Tata, as well as local councils, met last week to discuss the way forward. |
| Steel future | Steel future |
| Motherwell and Wishaw MSP John Pentland, himself a former steelworker, has welcomed the creation of the task force and called for all avenues to be explored to keep the plants open. | Motherwell and Wishaw MSP John Pentland, himself a former steelworker, has welcomed the creation of the task force and called for all avenues to be explored to keep the plants open. |
| He said: "The starting point for the Scottish Task Force should be saving the steel plants and all the jobs, not softening the blow. | He said: "The starting point for the Scottish Task Force should be saving the steel plants and all the jobs, not softening the blow. |
| "We should not meekly accept the annihilation of the Scottish steel industry. We don't want consolation measures such as retraining for other jobs that don't exist. There are other options that will protect the industry and its jobs. | "We should not meekly accept the annihilation of the Scottish steel industry. We don't want consolation measures such as retraining for other jobs that don't exist. There are other options that will protect the industry and its jobs. |
| "I believe Scottish steel can have a future, and we must consider all the options to achieve that, including public ownership, which doesn't rely on Westminster anymore." | "I believe Scottish steel can have a future, and we must consider all the options to achieve that, including public ownership, which doesn't rely on Westminster anymore." |