This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tees/8157051.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Workers march to save steel plant Workers march to save steel plant
(about 4 hours later)
Thousands of workers and their families are marching on Teesside in protest over the looming closure of a Corus steel plant in Redcar. Thousands of people have taken part in a march calling on the government to help the Corus steel plant in Redcar which is faced with closure.
The company has warned it may have to close the plant because a consortium of customers has withdrawn from a 10-year contract to buy its steel. Up to 2,000 jobs at the Teesside Cast Products factory are at risk after an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year-deal to buy its steel.
Unions say the closure will result in the loss of 2,000 jobs at the plant, as well as another 1,000 jobs elsewhere. Organisers said Saturday's "Save our Steel" event sent out a strong message.
Company bosses are trying to persuade the consortium to honour its contract. The government said: "We are... engaged with Corus to try to secure the future for as many workers as possible."
It was announced in May that the Redcar Teesside Cast Products plant was to be mothballed. Union organisers said up to 5,000 workers and their families had turned out for the march and rally.
Progress in talks to resolve the contract problems has been hindered by a slump in demand for steel. Marchers included workers from the local port, and Teesside's chemical industry, as well from the Corus plants in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, and Rotherham and Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire.
Prices for slab steel, which Redcar specialises in, have fallen from over $1,000 (£612) per tonne last year to under $300 this month. 'Real peril'
'More support needed' There was also a message of support from the Australian Workers' Union, which is fighting to save its steel jobs.
But Unite, one of the unions active at the plant, says the Teesside community will be devastated if the Corus plant is shut down, as many local families and businesses depend on the plant for their livelihoods. It was announced in May that the 150-year-old Redcar plant was to be mothballed, and progress in talks to resolve the contract problems has been hindered by a slump in demand for steel.
The march, which set off at 1400 BST in Redcar, has been organised by unions Unite, SIMA, Community, GMB and UCATT. Unite, one of the unions active at the plant, said the Teesside community will be devastated if the Corus plant is shut down, as many local families and businesses depend on the plant for their livelihoods.
Bob Bolam, regional officer for Unite, said: "This is not a protest, what we are doing is marching to raise awareness of the site and what we want is the government to get involved with Corus, with the consortium to obviously bring them back around the table, to ensure that steel production on Teesside is maintained." People came from all over the country to be here, and it tells us that we are not alone Bob Stainthorpe, multi-union committee deputy chairman
Bob Stainthorpe deputy chairman of the multi-union committee at the plant, said up to 5,000 people were crammed the length of Redcar High Street.
"It just shows the public support we have," he said.
"People came from all over the country to be here, and it tells us that we are not alone."
Roy Rickhuss from the Community Union said: "We need help, we need support from the government if the manufacturing base in this country is going to survive.Roy Rickhuss from the Community Union said: "We need help, we need support from the government if the manufacturing base in this country is going to survive.
"And steel is key to that, without steel there is no manufacturing base in this country.""And steel is key to that, without steel there is no manufacturing base in this country."
Among those attending were local MPs, workers from the Corus plants in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, and Rotherham and Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire. However, Vera Baird, the MP for Redcar, said she was hopeful Corus would get the contract back.
There was also a message of support from the Australian Workers' Union, which is fighting to save its steel jobs. Roy Rickhuss Community Union: "It's time to help the hard hats"
"There are other people who are interested in buying our steel now," she said.
"So I feel that although we are still in real peril, we do have a real prospect.
"And make no mistake, the government is 100% behind, and has played a key role in encouraging these negotiations to resume."
A Department for Business spokesman said: "We have offered £5m in training support to help the workforce up skill for the upturn, signalling a real commitment from the Government to Corus and its workforce.
"The difficulties that the company is facing are caused by an extreme downturn in demand for steel around the world.
"It is restructuring as it seeks to match production to lower demand and to position itself for to the future."
Do you work at Corus? Have you been marching today? Send us your stories using the form below.Do you work at Corus? Have you been marching today? Send us your stories using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions