Local communities will be destroyed with mass unemployment and the balance of payment deficit will increase further if we don't get government support and action says GMB.
GMB, the union for steel workers, commented on the announcement that Tata Steel is to make 250 redundancies in their strip steel business.
This includes closing and mothballing of the Llanwern Hot Mill and Cold Mill and one Pickle Line.
Tata Steel will retain the Llanwern Hot Coil Finishing and the Zodiac Line - which is the automotive line.
Last month Tata Steel proposed 685 job cuts for two plants in Rotherham and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire and 35 job cuts at Wednesbury in West Midlands. Those job losses are proposed for end March 2016. See notes to editors for copy of GMB press release dated 16th July 2015.
Dave Hulse, GMB National Officer, said "This is more bad news for the steel industry. This comes on the back of the recent announcement that 720 jobs will go in the Speciality Business. The 250 jobs to go will be drawn from agency workers who are currently employed at Tata Steel sites.
There are genuine and well founded concerns over the future of the steel industry in the UK. GMB will propose that the Trades Unions Steel Committee write to Prime Minister David Cameron requesting a meeting to discuss these concerns over the long term future.
We will see local communities destroyed with mass unemployment while the balance of payment deficit will increase further if we don't act now and get government support and action.
Energy intensive industries need access to affordable and secure energy. Government must ensure competitive tariffs for large scale power users so that the push for low carbon does not drive heavy industry out of the UK.
Unless Government acts what's left of the steel industry will be at risk."
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