Fears for 1000’s of jobs at Britain’s greatest steelworks
U
nions worry 1000’s of job losses are to be introduced on Friday at Britain’s greatest steelworks below plans to provide “greener” metal.
Tata, the Indian conglomerate that owns the Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales, has been in talks with the Government for months over state help price lots of of tens of millions of kilos to assist change the plant’s two coal-fired blast furnaces to electrical arc variations that may run on zero-carbon electrical energy.
The transfer may result in round 3,000 job losses, primarily at Port Talbot, unions worry.
Ministers are anticipated to say the deal is meant to safe the survival of the plant which employs half of Tata Steel’s 8,000-strong workforce.
Tata warned final 12 months that its UK operations have been below menace except it secured authorities funding to assist it transfer to much less carbon-intensive electrical arc furnaces.
Unions complained that they had been shut out of negotiations over the deal.
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB nationwide officer, stated: “Government intervention in the steel industry is long overdue, but imposing a program without proper worker consultation is unacceptable.
We wholeheartedly support the move to modernise and decarbonise the industry, in fact we have sought this type of investment for years. But ignoring technologies outside of electric arc furnaces will mean tens of thousands of people will lose their livelihoods
“GMB has urged ministers and Tata Steel to have a longer-term view on the decarbonisation of steel.
“It is not a just transition if thousands of jobs are sacrificed in the name of short-term environmental gains.
“We wholeheartedly support the move to modernise and decarbonise the industry, in fact we have sought this type of investment for years.
“But ignoring technologies outside of electric arc furnaces will mean tens of thousands of people will lose their livelihoods.”
Alun Davies, nationwide officer for the Community union, stated: “There must be a full and meaningful consultation on all the options to decarbonise steelmaking and secure the future of every UK plant.
“Community will do everything within its powers to support our members and protect their jobs.”
Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of research on the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), stated: “The Government may be trying to do the right thing here, but if this deal leads to 3,000 job loses it can’t be right.
“Having a long-term vision that leads to hydrogen-based steel manufacture at Port Talbot, as well as the arc furnaces that recycle used steel, could protect many more jobs.”
Gary Smith, common secretary of the GMB union instructed the PA news company: “This deal will have devastating consequences for jobs and workers. It will rip the heart out of the Port Talbot community.
“For years, GMB has called for investment in this critically important industry. Instead of listening the Government dithered and delayed until it is too late, and thousands of workers, their families and communities will pay the price.
“Our country cannot be secure without a functioning domestic steel industry and workers must be at the heart of plans to modernise it.
“Once again, we see how so-called transitions are anything but fair or just for working people.”