Tata Steel workers vote for industrial action

Unions want to keep at least one blast furnace open in Port Talbot

Steelworkers in the Unite union have voted in favour of industrial action over Tata Steel UK’s restructuring plans.

Unite said it members based in Port Talbot and Llanwern had voted in favour of taking action to oppose the loss of almost 3,000 jobs.

Members of the Community union, who run the heavy end of steel production, began their own strike ballot on Thursday.

Tata Steel said it was "naturally disappointed" union members had indicated they would be prepared to take industrial action while consultation continued.

The company wants to replace blast furnace production at the UK’s largest steelworks in Port Talbot with greener steelmaking that requires fewer staff.

Unite said Tata had other choices after the union secured a commitment from Labour that it would invest £3bn in UK steel, compared with the £500m pledged by the current UK government.

It would be the first time in more than 40 years that Port Talbot steelworkers have gone on strike.

It said dates for strike action scheduled to cause maximum impact will be announced soon.

The union claimed Tata had threatened to withdraw enhanced redundancy packages if workers took strike action.

Peter Hughes said steel in the UK has a "fantastic future"

Unite Wales regional secretary Peter Hughes said: “Tata has employed everything from bribes to threats to discourage our members from industrial action.

"They will not be intimidated into standing by while Tata attempts to carry out an act of devastating industrial vandalism against their jobs and communities, inflicting untold harm on the Welsh economy and the UK’s national interest."

Tata Steel said: "We have written to Unite union twice during the ballot process to notify them of significant irregularities in the ballot process they have undertaken.

"Our ambition remains to move forward at pace with a just transition, and to become the centre of a future green sustainable industrial ecosystem in the UK."

Asked about Tata Steel's questioning of the ballot process, Unite's Peter Hughes said: “Our members have put a message very clearly to Tata.

"They will not be blackmailed, they will not be bullied, we will stand up and fight and we will win this fight.

"Steel in the UK has got a fantastic future, it is a pity that Tata can’t see it.”

Unions have campaigned against the plans in Port Talbot

Meanwhile members of the Community union, who traditionally work in the blast furnaces and other areas in the heavy end of the works, have opened their own ballot for industrial action.

They will have until 9 May to vote.

General secretary Roy Rickhuss said Tata’s plan was "unviable, undeliverable and unacceptable" and urged members to vote in favour.

"Industrial action is always a last resort for any worker, but our members know that we now have to fight to save our industry, and we must use every tool at our disposal to apply pressure on Tata to change course,” Mr Rickhuss said.

The union said Tata's plan for Port Talbot amounted to "decarbonisation on the cheap" and would lead to a three-year pause in steel production until an "untested" electric furnace was built.

About 4,000 people work at the UK's largest steelworks in Port Talbot

Tata Steel UK employs 8,000 people, with about 4,000 based in Port Talbot.

The Indian-owned company will spend £1.25bn on a new electric arc furnace, which will be built on the sprawling Port Talbot site. The UK government is contributing £500m towards the total cost of the project.

Unions had produced their own alternative plan which reduced job losses by keeping at least one blast furnace going until the new electric arc furnace was ready. But the idea was rejected by Tata Steel, which cited safety risks if the new furnace was built near a hot metal production line.

Support in place for staff includes a £100m transition fund, which includes £80m from the UK government and £20m from Tata.