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Tata job cuts: union calls for government action | Tata job cuts: union calls for government action |
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Britain’s biggest steelworkers’ union has called on the government to defend the industry as Tata Steel prepares to announce more than 1,000 job cuts at its UK business. | Britain’s biggest steelworkers’ union has called on the government to defend the industry as Tata Steel prepares to announce more than 1,000 job cuts at its UK business. |
The Community union also demanded that Tata make a long-term commitment to steelmaking in Britain, as the latest cuts take job losses to more than 3,000 in six months. | The Community union also demanded that Tata make a long-term commitment to steelmaking in Britain, as the latest cuts take job losses to more than 3,000 in six months. |
Related: Tata to cut 1,000 jobs at steel plants in Wales | Related: Tata to cut 1,000 jobs at steel plants in Wales |
The Indian conglomerate, which owns the remnants of British Steel, plans to cut about 1,050 jobs, including 750 at its Port Talbot plant in Wales. A further 300 jobs will be cut at the company’s plants in Llanwern and Trostre in Wales; Corby in Northamptonshire; and Hartlepool in County Durham. | |
Britain’s steel industry has been battered by falling prices, the strength of the pound against the euro, high energy costs and alleged dumping of cheap steel by China. A parliamentary committee criticised the government last month for reacting too slowly to the crisis, which has caused more than 5,000 job losses and left the sector permanently damaged. | |
Roy Rickhuss, Community’s general secretary, said: “Today’s announcement is no reflection of the skills and commitment of the Tata Steel workforce, which has been breaking production records over the past year. | Roy Rickhuss, Community’s general secretary, said: “Today’s announcement is no reflection of the skills and commitment of the Tata Steel workforce, which has been breaking production records over the past year. |
“This industry needs meaningful action from the UK government which, up to now, has been characterised by fast talking but slow delivery, despite persistent warnings from Community that delays in implementing support for steel would have an impact on jobs. | |
“Even now, promised compensation for energy intensive industries is yet to be received. The dumping of cheap Chinese steel is one of the biggest causes of this crisis, yet the UK government remains a cheerleader for China and their bid for ‘market economy status’, which would decimate what’s left of our steel industry.” | |
Tata announced almost 1,200 cuts, mainly in Scotland and Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, in October and 720, mainly in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in July. | |
Community said workers had made large sacrifices based on an assurance that jobs would be protected, but Tata had not kept its side of the bargain. | |
“Tata Steel must now come clean about their long-term commitment to the UK. Community, as the steelworkers’ union, stands ready to play our part in securing a future for the industry,” Rickhuss said. | |
Many of the job cuts have been concentrated in towns that rely on the well-paid jobs at steelworks to support local businesses. Tata employs more than 4,000 people at its Port Talbot plant and about 3,000 more contractors and agency staff are employed there, Community said. | |
Alan Coombs, a Port Talbot steelworker and the president of Community, said: “Port Talbot is a town built on steel. My father and grandfathers worked here but we risk losing these jobs forever without more action from government. Thousands of other families here in Port Talbot rely on the steelworks. | |
“Here in Port Talbot we make some of the world’s best steel, but cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs are crippling our industry.” | “Here in Port Talbot we make some of the world’s best steel, but cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs are crippling our industry.” |