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Corus plant mothballing to begin Anger at Corus plant mothballing
(30 minutes later)
Partial mothballing of the Corus steel plant in Redcar is due to begin later. Corus workers on Teesside have accused the government of talking "platitudes" over the future of Redcar's plant, which is being partially mothballed.
Teesside Cast Products (TCP) has been under threat since last year, when an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year contract. The shutdown of the blast furnace at Teesside Cast Products (TCP) begins later, with up to 1,600 jobs set to go.
About 1,600 workers will lose their jobs, though the mothballing process could take up to six months. Gordon Brown said he was "desperately looking" for investment. Corus has said the closure is temporary, with the firm open to "credible offers".
A consortium is said to be interested in buying the site, while Gordon Brown has said the government is "desperately looking" for new investment. Unions say the mothballing is premature and have threatened industrial action.
However, workers have accused the prime minister of talking "platitudes" and unions have stepped up warnings of industrial action.
Alan Blackwood, 57, who has worked at Redcar for 42 years and is now facing voluntary retirement, said: "I am just gobsmacked. It just feels to me that Corus doesn't want Teesside to exist.
We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved Alan Blackwood, Corus workerWe are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved Alan Blackwood, Corus worker
TCP has been under threat since last May, when an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year contract.
The mothballing was confirmed earlier this week, despite hopes that a buyer could be found in the meantime.
Alan Blackwood, 57, who has worked at Redcar for 42 years and is now facing voluntary retirement, said: "I am just gobsmacked. It just feels to me that Corus doesn't want Teesside to exist.
"We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved. I think I am more concerned about the company than the government is.""We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved. I think I am more concerned about the company than the government is."
Linda Robinson, 50, whose family have been working at the steelworks for three generations, said her brother finished his last shift this morning and would never be going back. Linda Robinson, 50, whose family have been working at the plant for three generations, said her brother had just finished last shift and would never be going back.
She said: "They say mothballing, but really it's closure. It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak." Three generations of Linda Robinson's family have worked at the plant
The predicted knock-on effect of the mothballing has been described as "horrendous", with Redcar and Cleveland Council estimating that up to 8,000 further jobs could be lost at surrounding companies. "They say mothballing, but really it's closure," she said.
The mothballing process could take up to six months "It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak."
Speaking yesterday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "Politically, we are not going to walk away from this plant. We stand full square behind it. The mothballing could take up to six months, meaning the job losses will be gradual, but there was a sense of finality among workers.
"We will do everything we can to bring it out of mothballing and back into production as everyone around here wants to see. Geoff Waterfield, multi-union chairman at TCP said: "I think the mood today, as it's been for quite a while, is quite a sad mood really amongst everybody.
"The reason it is not yet a tragedy is because it is not yet a closure of this plant. This plant will be maintained, its ability to reopen and resume operation will be protected by the company, and I have that assurance from them." "And today I think will be very emotional on the site, and very emotional in the region for the community - because it affects not just the workers but pretty much everybody in the surrounding area".
A Corus spokesman said: "Corus's position remains unchanged. This is a mothballing, not a permanent closure. TCP will be kept ready for a restart. Corus remains open to credible offers for TCP." The predicted knock-on effect has been described as "horrendous", with Redcar and Cleveland Council estimating up to 8,000 further jobs could be lost at local companies.
Unions, however, had called the mothballing "premature". Speaking on Thursday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson maintained the plant will be protected by the company, with a view to re-opening once a buyer has been found.
The Community union confirmed moves to ballot its members, while the GMB union announced it was considering action. I'm very proud of the people here because they've had to live with this hanging over them John Bolton, TCP managing director
However, the Community union says it plans to ballot its members on industrial action over the decision to mothball, while the GMB union has announced it is also considering action.
The shutting down of TCP's blast furnace will start on Friday, followed by the "blow down" process to use up the remaining raw materials.The shutting down of TCP's blast furnace will start on Friday, followed by the "blow down" process to use up the remaining raw materials.
On Saturday, holes will be drilled in the furnace to take out residual metal - a procedure known as "tapping the salamander".On Saturday, holes will be drilled in the furnace to take out residual metal - a procedure known as "tapping the salamander".
Work to preserve the machinery will then begin, in the hope that it can be restarted at a future date.Work to preserve the machinery will then begin, in the hope that it can be restarted at a future date.
John Bolton, managing director of TCP told the BBC: "It's a very sad day today. We've known about the potential of this happening since May.
"I'm very proud of the people here because they've had to live with this hanging over them.
"Everybody here has done everything they can to keep this plant going."
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