Unite said it would be the first strike in Britain in more than four decades.
By means of Daniel Binns, business reporter
Friday June 21, 2024 5:39 PM, UK
About 1,500 workers at Tata Steel will go on a “full indefinite strike” next month, a union has announced.
Industrial action at the company’s sites in Port Talbot and Llanwern, Newport, will begin on July 8, Unite said.
The union said the strike would have a “serious impact” on the company’s UK operations.
It comes in response plans to close Tata Steel’s blast furnaces in the south Walesputting 2,800 jobs at risk.
The union said it would be the first time in more than four decades that steelworkers in Britain would go on strike.
Members voted in favor of the move in April.
Industrial action, short of a strike, includes staff working to rule and a ban on overtime. started earlier this week.
The union’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Tata’s workers aren’t just fighting for their jobs – they’re fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales.
“Our members will not stand by while this immensely wealthy conglomerate tries to scrap Port Talbot and Llanwern so it can boost its operations abroad.”
She added: “The strikes will continue until Tata stops his disastrous plans.
“Unite fully supports Tata employees in their historic battle to save the Welsh steel industry and give it the bright future it deserves.”
Read more: Port Talbot’s uncertain future as the costs of going green become apparent
Tata Steel previously said it was losing £1m a day at Port Talbot and warned the situation was unsustainable.
The company said its plans, which include the construction of an electric arc furnace, would mark the start of a new way of “competitive and greener” steel production.
The proposals were officially confirmed in January, when boss TV Narendran told MPs decision was “pretty much” a foregone conclusion.
Read more from the business community:
Retail sales are rising as the weather starts to recover
The French economy is hit after Macron’s election call
Microsoft returns as the most valuable company in the world
Sky News first exclusively revealed details of the plans in September 2023.
Unions including Unite expect Labor to hold emergency talks with the company if the party wins the upcoming election general election.
Alun Davies, national officer for steel at the Community union, which says it represents the “vast majority” of affected Tata workers, said he has decided together with the GMB union not to take part in any industrial action for the time being.
He added: “If the Labor Party wins the general election, it has said it will hold emergency talks with Tata.
“We are pleased with this and now feel it is important to wait for the completion of that process before taking any significant action.”
A Tata Steel spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed by Unite’s unilateral decision to go on strike.
“Our existing steelworks are nearing the end of their lives, are operationally unstable and are causing unsustainable losses of £1 million per day. This is why preparations to close the blast furnaces and associated factories in Port Talbot remain unchanged.
“However, if the safety and stability of our operations are compromised by this action, we will be forced to accelerate closure plans.
“After extensive negotiations with our unions, we have substantially enhanced our support offering for affected employees – the most generous package in our history. Rather than taking strike action, we expected Unite to present our improved offer to its members, as previously accepted by all. trade unions, including Unite.”