Community Union has lead the multi-union body that has negotiated a national framework agreement with Corus, the UK’s largest Steel manufacturer. The framework was adopted by the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee (NTUSCC) in London, on Thursday 19th March.
The agreement was formulated to establish an approach for ‘Weathering the Storm’, the term used by Corus for the process of adapting the business to cope with the economic downturn.
Community Union Branch Officials will now begin the process of negotiating agreements at a local level. Negotiations will focus on cost-cutting measures, as well as training and employee support provision.
Community’s National Officer for Steel, Roy Rickhuss, said:
Discussions can now take place at local level and should agreements be reached Community Union can ensure that the needs of our members in each workplace are addressed. Through their branch officials members can have a direct input into the discussions and will vote on the final arrangements.
It is the objective of Community to ensure that any agreements protect the workforce in the long term to ensure that the British Steel industry remains in a position to survive the downturn without suffering permanent cuts to capacity.”