Posted on 20 Feb 2024
The Community and Unite trade unions will begin balloting members for industrial action in response to Tata Steel UK’s plan to close blast furnaces and cut jobs at the Port Talbot steelworks, Kallanish notes.
Community says the ballot will take place “as soon as is practically possible”, while Unite will begin the process on 1 March and close the ballot on 9 April, meaning industrial action could begin before end-April.
“Whilst the consultation on Tata’s plan is still ongoing, recent comments from the senior leadership of Tata Steel have brought that process into disrepute. It is apparent that Tata are no longer considering alternatives to their disastrous plan to install a 3 million tonne electric arc furnace, which we have always said is completely unacceptable, and we are seriously concerned the consultation is a sham,” says Community assistant general secretary Alasdair McDiarmid.
“Rishi Sunak has to step up too and back our industry to the extent the German Government is backing theirs." The multi-union plan “can be delivered if only our Government matches the ambition of our European neighbours,” McDiarmid continues.
At a rally on Saturday, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said “another future for steel is possible” and happening in other countries. “For the Tata Dutch workers, where Tata has chosen both to invest and build an electric arc and not run down the site. For the German and French workers, whose governments have chosen to invest and not run down their sites … These are sites where blast furnaces remain open while electric arcs are being built. Where DRI capacity is being brought in. Where jobs are being protected,” she noted.
Tata Steel chief executive TV Narendran said last month he is confident the firm will secure sufficient ore-based metallics supply to feed its prospective EAF at Port Talbot. It will also consider a future DRI plant investment at the site. The UK Trade Remedies Authority meanwhile launched two reviews of the current safeguards measure on HRC in response to the blast furnace closures and said it will recommend the measure is suspended for nine months.
Source:Kallanish
