Fears for thousands of jobs at Britain’s largest steelworks
Unions fear thousands of job losses will be announced at Britain’s largest steelworks on Friday to produce “greener” steel.
Tata, the Indian group that owns the Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales, has been negotiating with the government for months for hundreds of millions of pounds worth of state aid to convert the plant’s two coal-fired blast furnaces to electric arc versions that can run on carbon-free electricity.
Unions fear the move could lead to the loss of around 3,000 jobs, particularly in Port Talbot.
Ministers are expected to say the deal is designed to ensure the survival of the plant, which employs half of Tata Steel’s 8,000 workers.
Tata warned last year that its UK operations were at risk unless it received government funding to switch to less carbon-intensive electric arc furnaces.
Unions complained that they had been left out of negotiations over the deal.
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB national representative, said: “Government intervention in the steel industry is long overdue, but imposing a program without proper consultation with workers is unacceptable.”
We fully support the move to modernize and decarbonize the industry and have been seeking this type of investment for years. But if technologies outside of electric arc furnaces are ignored, tens of thousands of people will lose their livelihoods
“GMB has called on ministers and Tata Steel to take a longer-term view on decarbonising steel.
“It is not a fair transition when thousands of jobs are sacrificed in the name of short-term environmental benefits.
“We fully support the move to modernize and decarbonize the industry and have been seeking this type of investment for years.
“But ignoring technologies outside of electric arc furnaces will result in tens of thousands of people losing their livelihoods.”
Community union national officer Alun Davies said: “There needs to be a full and meaningful consultation on all options to decarbonise steelmaking and secure the future of every UK factory.”
“The community will do everything in its power to support our members and protect their jobs.”
Dr. Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “The government may be trying to do the right thing here, but if this deal results in the loss of 3,000 jobs then that cannot be right.”
“A long-term vision that leads to hydrogen-based steel production in Port Talbot, as well as electric arc furnaces that recycle used steel, could protect many more jobs.”
Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB union, told the PA news agency: “This deal will have devastating consequences for jobs and workers. “It will rip the heart out of the Port Talbot community.
“GMB has been calling for investment in this vitally important industry for years. Instead of listening, the government dithered and dithered until it was too late and thousands of workers, their families and communities paid the price.
“Our country cannot be safe without a functioning domestic steel industry, and workers must be at the heart of modernization plans.”
“We see once again that the so-called transitions are anything but fair or only for working people.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/fears-for-thousands-of-jobs-at-britain-s-biggest-steelworks-b1107167.html Fears for thousands of jobs at Britain’s largest steelworks
