Loss of Teesside – Industrial Sabotage and Environmental Vandalism

Loss of Teesside – Industrial Sabotage and Environmental Vandalism

The mothballing and potential closure of Teesside Cast Products would throw thousands out of work, damage the British economy and harm the environment says Community Union. Appearing before the North East Region Parliamentary Select Committee on Friday 15th January, Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE will tell the committee that the potential closure of Teesside will see an annual carbon leakage of over 1 million tonnes of CO2.

The union emphasises the mothballing of Teesside will also see the loss of skills as the workforce is forced into lower-skilled occupations.

Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE will say:


‘Steel production is the measure of a nation’s manufacturing capacity. Environmental improvements and a well-trained, highly-skilled workforce mean that British steel plants produce some of the highest quality steel with as little CO2 production as possible. You’d have to plant one million trees each year to offset the carbon leakage if Teesside closed down. Closing Teesside would not simply be industrial sabotage, it would be environmental vandalism.

‘Teesside is a key part of Britain’s industrial capacity. Tata Corus still have a moral and social duty to find an alternative future for Teesside and the Government must give what support they can to ensure this happens.’

Community- the union for life – organises across the UK economy, in traditional manufacturing industries – such as steel, plastics, textiles and domestic appliances – and newer service sectors like social care and betting shops. The National League of the Blind and Disabled is also a part of Community.

· Corus produce about 1.85 tonnes CO2 per tonne liquid steel.

· Indian steel produces around 2.2 tonnes CO2 per tonne of liquid steel.

· Teesside Cast Products produce around 3m/t pa, that’s 5.5m/t CO2 from Teesside and 6.63m/t pa from equivalent plants in India. An increase of 1.1m/t of CO2 per year. Planting 1 tree offsets 1 million tonnes of carbon over its lifetime.