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/8523382.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Anger at Corus plant mothballing | Anger at Corus plant mothballing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Corus steel workers on Teesside have accused the government of talking "platitudes" over the future of the plant that is to be partly mothballed. | |
| The blast furnace at Redcar's Teesside Cast Products (TCP) is being shut down, with up to 1,600 jobs set to be axed. | |
| Gordon Brown said he was "desperately looking" for investment. Corus has said the closure is temporary, with the firm open to "credible offers". | Gordon Brown said he was "desperately looking" for investment. Corus has said the closure is temporary, with the firm open to "credible offers". |
| Unions say the mothballing is premature and have threatened industrial action. | Unions say the mothballing is premature and have threatened industrial action. |
| We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved Alan Blackwood, Corus worker | We 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 plant for three generations, said her brother had just finished last shift 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. |
| Three generations of Linda Robinson's family have worked at the plant | Three generations of Linda Robinson's family have worked at the plant |
| "They say mothballing, but really it's closure," she said. | "They say mothballing, but really it's closure," she said. |
| "It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak." | "It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak." |
| The mothballing could take up to six months, meaning the job losses will be gradual, but there was a sense of finality among workers. | The mothballing could take up to six months, meaning the job losses will be gradual, but there was a sense of finality among workers. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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". | "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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| I'm very proud of the people here because they've had to live with this hanging over them John Bolton, TCP managing director | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "Everybody here has done everything they can to keep this plant going." |
| Do you work at the Redcar plant? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments. | Do you work at the Redcar plant? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box 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 & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |