Date: Friday 22nd May
Community Union welcomes constructive discussions with Marcegalia
Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy, speaking on behalf of the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee said:
“Marcegalia indicated that under the right circumstances they were willing to use their good offices to encourage their partners to sit down with Corus in the UK to explore new possible commercial solutions which will preserve production at Teeside Cast Products and assist the process of safeguarding jobs on Teeside. This is the message we will take back to Corus and the UK Government and we hope that they will ensure that such talks can take place as a matter of urgency.”
Date: Friday 15th May
National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee meet with Corus CEO Kirby Adams.
Date: Friday 12th June
The Consortium, whose actions have put Teesside Cast Products in jeopardy, risking almost 2,000 jobs issued a statement on Friday 12th June calling for Corus to abandon legal action and return to the negotiating table.
Responding to these statements from the Consortium, Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE said:
‘It is clear that the ball is now firmly in Corus’ court. Community hopes that it will not be necessary to remind Corus of their social and moral responsibilities to the thousands of workers on Teesside.’
Date: Friday 19th June
Teesside MP – Vera Baird has lead efforts to write to government
departments urging them to ensure every opportunity is given to Redcar
TCP to be involved in capital spending projects which could require TCP
steel and to try and bring forward such projects to as early a date as
possible. Vera was joined by other Teesside MP's Ashok Kumar and Dari
Taylor.
The letters explain the recent withdrawal of the consortium led by
Marcegaglia from the ‘offtake’ agreement, how the plant has always been
profitable, that negotiations are ongoing and that the measures above
were outlined by Corus as a possible way in which the government could
further assist the situation on Teesside.