A “LAST stand” for Britain’s steel industry was launched in Wales on Saturday as hundreds of workers, families and supporters rallied at Port Talbot, where 2,000 jobs are under threat.
Members of steel unions Community and Unite were told that the “hand of history” would be on their shoulder when they vote on strike action in defence of their jobs next month.
Tata Steel plans to replace Port Talbot’s coal-fired blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces, which represent a cleaner form of steel production.
The government is handing Tata £500 million in taxpayers’ cash towards the changeover.
The company rejected a joint union plan to save the jobs.
Speaking at the rally, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham recited a litany of steel industry job losses: “In 2023, Newport Liberty Steel and Scunthorpe British Steel — nearly 1,000 steel jobs gone.
“In 2020, Newport, Tata — nearly 400 jobs gone. In 2015 and 2016, Rotherham, Scunthorpe and Port Talbot Tata — nearly 3,000 jobs gone.
“In 2015, Redcar, Teesside SSI — over 2,000 steel jobs gone. And on and on it went.
“Friends, together our politicians have sat by and watched our steel industry be decimated.
“They have handed our steel to overseas corporations, undermined our economy and our national security. They have let communities wither on the vine. They have failed us all.
“Well, we say here together: no more! The time for begging is over. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for us to fight with everything we have.”
Unite has backed up its call for strike action by establishing a £20 million fighting fund.
Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss said: “There is so much at stake here and the weeks and months ahead are absolutely critical for our industry, our steel communities and the country as a whole. We need our steel.”
Port Talbot steelworks multi-union committee chairman Alan Coombs said: “These are uncertain times and many of us are anxious about what lies ahead for Port Talbot.
“One thing is certain, though: steelworkers will fight tooth and nail for the future of our industry and our livelihoods.”
The unions’ strike ballots open on March 1.
