UNITE vowed to “fight for every job” at the Orb steelworks in Newport toUday after steel giant Tata announced the plant’s forthcoming closure.

Up to 380 jobs are set to go from the specialist electrical steel plant, which has been in production since 1898.

The company has been up for sale since May 2018, as Tata decided to concentrate on its core steel production business.

Tata said that the company had been struggling with the large and growing volume of competition and only made a profit in two of the last 10 years.

Tata European operations head Henrik Adam said: “I recognise how difficult this news will be for all those affected and we will work very hard to support them.”

But Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss said that Tata, which employs nearly 6,000 workers across Wales, has “made a mockery” of former jobs guarantee agreements.

“There has been no consultation about this proposal either at UK or European level and company management should hang their heads in shame in the way this has come about,” he said.

“This is of course extremely devastating news for workers at the Orb, but all Tata Steel workers should be concerned by the way Tata is breaking its commitments.”

Unite has also demanded job guarantees at the plant.

The union’s Tata Steel officer Tony Brady said: “The closure of the Orb electrical steel base in Newport is yet another body blow for the economy of Wales.

“Unite will be fighting for every job and holding Tata Steel’s feet to the fire over assurances that workers affected by today’s announcement will be redeployed.

“Unite will not sit back and allow decent well-paid jobs and irreplaceable skills to go to the wall. In the coming days we will be engaging with Tata Steel and pressing for detailed guarantees.”

The company has claimed that workers will be offered alternative employment at other Tata sites where possible and consultations with staff and unions would start shortly.

Labour’s shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey said: “This is yet another blow to the UK steel industry and the communities that rely on it.

“The government must urgently work with steel unions and industry to implement an emergency strategy for the sector.”