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| Union announces Corus strike vote | Union announces Corus strike vote |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thousands of steel workers are to be balloted for strike action in protest at the partial mothballing of Redcar's Corus plant. | Thousands of steel workers are to be balloted for strike action in protest at the partial mothballing of Redcar's Corus plant. |
| The GMB union confirmed the move as work gets under way to shut down the blast furnace at Teesside Cast Products (TCP), where 1,600 jobs will be lost. | The GMB union confirmed the move as work gets under way to shut down the blast furnace at Teesside Cast Products (TCP), where 1,600 jobs will be lost. |
| It has accused the government of going back on a promise to delay mothballing. | It has accused the government of going back on a promise to delay mothballing. |
| Gordon Brown said he is "desperately looking" for investment and Corus claims it is open to "credible offers". | Gordon Brown said he is "desperately looking" for investment and Corus claims it is open to "credible offers". |
| The Community union also said it plans to ballot members for industrial action. | The Community union also said it plans to ballot members for industrial action. |
| Keith Hazlewood, national officer of the GMB, said: "The decision to mothball the plant suggests that Corus did not really want to keep it open or sell it to another steel company. | Keith Hazlewood, national officer of the GMB, said: "The decision to mothball the plant suggests that Corus did not really want to keep it open or sell it to another steel company. |
| Some people said they were 'gutted' at the news | Some people said they were 'gutted' at the news |
| "The decision is bad for Britain and for our manufacturing industry and our members will now be asked to respond." | "The decision is bad for Britain and for our manufacturing industry and our members will now be asked to respond." |
| The union said Corus staff across the UK, including those at Port Talbot, Scunthorpe, Teesside and Rotherham, would be balloted. | The union said Corus staff across the UK, including those at Port Talbot, Scunthorpe, Teesside and Rotherham, would be balloted. |
| 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. |
| Some workers have accused the government of talking "platitudes" over the future of the plant. | Some workers have accused the government of talking "platitudes" over the future of the plant. |
| 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." |
| PM 'still looking for Corus buyer' class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/tees/8524676.stm">Readers react | |
| Linda Robinson, 50, whose family have been working at the plant for three generations, said her brother had just finished his 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 his last shift and would never be going back. |
| "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. |
| TCP multi-union chairman Geoff Waterfield says the closure 'does not add up' | TCP multi-union chairman Geoff Waterfield says the closure 'does not add up' |
| 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 |