In a further significant threat Tata had told workers that next month’s general election will not affect it plans to close its blast furnaces.
“Neither the general election nor its outcome has any impact on the timings or our decision to proceed with the winding down of our heavy-end operations [blast furnaces],” a Tata statement read.
In the same communication the company has threatened to bring forward the closure of blast furnaces.
The company’s statement on its closure plans is a direct rebuff to the Labour Party, which is committed to creating a £3 billion investment steel fund to preserve steel making in the UK.
On Thursday when launching Labour’s campaign in Wales, Labour leader Keir Starmer said on Tata:
“I will fight for every single job and fight for the future of steel in Wales.”
In response to Tata’s statement Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added:
“Unite and its members will not tolerate Tata’s bully boy tactics and neither should Labour. The union is now preparing to escalate industrial action in direct response to the company’s threats.
“The company is trying to hold the country to ransom, while needlessly throw thousands of workers on the scrapheap. If Tata is not prepared to do the right thing, then an incoming Labour government must ensure it does.
“Tata’s actions show the fundamental problem with private multinational companies owning the UK’s foundation industries. It has no concern for the long-term economic damage and harm its action will cause in the UK.”
The redundancy pay cut threat was part of an extraordinary 900 plus word communication to Tata workers sent by chief executive officer Rajesh Nair that was sent late on Friday evening to the company’s workforce.
Unite believes that the threat of speeding up the closure of the blast furnaces is the latest part of Tata’s plans to turn Port Talbot into a satellite site for at least the next five years, while it imports hot rolled coil and slab steel, from India and its other overseas operations and badges it as produced in the UK.
Unite secretary for Wales Peter Hughes said:
“Workers will not be blackmailed. Unite never takes a backward step in supporting our members in their fight to preserve their jobs pay and conditions and the workers at Tata have the union’s complete support.”
[Lead image: Tata Steel]
