Date: Wednesday February 17th
All eyes on Mandelson on Teesside, but focus should remain on Tata Corus
The entire North East has turned their eyes upon Secretary of State for Business Lord Mandelson in anticipation of his visit to Teesside Cast Products (TCP) today, but the focus should remain on Tata Corus says Community Union. TCP is preparing to begin mothballing operations on Friday, making 1,600 steelworkers redundant and threatening a further 8,000 jobs in the wider economy of the North East.
General Secretary, Michael J. Leahy said:
“I’ve met with the government several times and I know that they are ready to act, but Tata Corus need to show a clear commitment to the workforce and to the local community. The government needs to know that any support is an investment in building a bridge to the future and not a bridge to nowhere.
Tata Corus have a moral and social responsibility to the workforce and to Teesside, however by continually stonewalling potential buyers and offtakers Tata Corus are signing the death warrant for more than 100 year tradition of Steel making on Teesside.’
Lord Mandelson’s visit to Teesside comes in the wake of the Community Union’s National Executive Council endorsing plans to allow Tata Corus members to ballot for industrial action in support of Teesside. This action would exclude the at-risk workforce on Teesside but may include the Teesside Coke Ovens and Beam Mill and Tata Corus sites across the country depending on the will of the members.
Date: Thursday February 18th
Decision to Mothball Teesside Cast Products is premature – industrial action threatened
The decision to mothball Teesside Cast Products is premature and jeopardises the foundations of British manufacturing says Community Union, representing the majority of Tata Corus members. The decision, which will place thousands of workers on the scrapheap, has the potential to devastate the North East.
General Secretary, Michael J. Leahy said:
“The decision to mothball disregards the potential for renewal and ignores alternatives which would safeguard the future of Teesside, the steel industry and British manufacturing. We still believe a viable deal can be done with a potential off-taker or buyer. The slab market is improving week by week and we are firmly of the view that Tata Corus have acted too quickly.
“By putting profit before the people of Teesside, Tata Corus have undermined the foundation for future growth – we will continue to fight for a future for Teesside.
Lots of questions remain unanswered not least the length of time that the mothball will take place.
In view of the manner in which this has been done, with Tata Corus riding roughshod over any consultation, it means we cannot rule out seeking our members’ support for industrial action.”
Date: Friday 19th February
Industrial Action to cause maximum damage to Tata Corus - minimum damage to our members
Proposed industrial action targeting Tata Corus – the UK Steel giant – over their mothballing of Teesside Cast Products would be designed to cause maximum damage to the company with minimum damage to the workforce says Community Union. The mothballing will see 1,600 steel workers made redundant with a further 8,000 jobs lost in the surrounding community.
General Secretary, Michael J. Leahy said:
‘Tata Corus have walked away from Teesside. We know that there are a number of good faith offers on the table, yet Tata Corus are not interested.
Make no mistake; calling this mothballing is simply sugar coating a closure. A redundancy from a mothballed plant is the same as a redundancy from a closed plant. Community believes that this charade of mothballing is simply an attempt to profit from Teesside’ Carbon Credits. By selling on these Carbon Credits Tata Corus are picking the pockets of the Teesside workforce.
Community will be giving our members the opportunity to ballot for industrial action in support of Teesside. While the popular press may envisage a mass walkout, as a modern union we will be seeking to make surgical strikes that will cause maximum damage to Tata Corus and minimum damage to our members.
The message from Community is clear; we have not and will not give up on steel making on Teesside. The plant is a strategic resource and the foundation for a rejuvenated British manufacturing industry.