Unions warn Rishi Sunak they will use 'all means' to protect steelworkers' jobs

14 September 2023 , 08:20

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Uncertainty surrounds a deal to slash emissions from the site (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Two union leaders today warn Rishi Sunak they will use “all means” to protect steelworkers’ jobs amid growing fears of thousands of redundancies.

Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss and GMB leader Gary Smith have written to the Prime Minister about the uncertainty gripping Tata’s Port Talbot plant - Britain’s biggest steelworks. Reports suggest the Government is poised to hand the company £500million to switch to less polluting electric arc furnaces.

But experts warn the move could trigger 3,000 job losses at the site which employs 4,000 staff. In their letter to the Prime Minister, seen by the Mirror, the pair call for Mr Sunak’s “support as we fight to secure a green steel strategy that will deliver a just transition for the workforce”.

Community steelworkers' union general secretary Roy Rickhuss (Daily Mirror)

They add: “We must stress that our trade unions do not support the UK transitioning to an electric arc furnace-only steelmaking model and concerningly, there has been no consultation on these reported proposals. It is not technologically possible to make all the grades of steel using electric arc furnaces that we currently make through blast furnaces. Therefore, such a strategy would be absolutely devastating for steelworkers as electric arc furnace steelmaking supports only a tiny fraction of the jobs required to make steel through the traditional blast furnace route, and it would result in plant closures and the UK becoming reliant on other countries for the production of virgin steel.”

Tata wants help to switch to less polluting electric arc furnaces, and insiders believe an agreement is close following months of negotiations between company bosses, ministers and Whitehall officials. Industry chiefs have repeatedly told the Mirror about the urgency of securing a deal because the Port Talbot blast furnaces are nearing the ends of their lives. The Indian-owned company would pump an estimated £700m into the site as part of an agreement.

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In their letter, the union chiefs add: “We firmly believe that a successful green steel transition can only be delivered in partnership with trade unions having an equal seat at the table. We expect full and meaningful consultation on any decarbonisation strategy, and it would be completely unacceptable were the companies and your Government to attempt to force technology choices upon us. As you would expect, our unions stand ready to use all means at our disposal to protect jobs and our vital strategic industry.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This Government could make us the green steel capital of Europe; instead they are choosing to follow a job cuts agenda. Unite will leave no stone unturned in the fight for jobs." She vowed to mount “a significant campaign on this issue”.

Britain’s £2.9billion steel sector directly employs 39,800 workers and supports another 50,000 in supply chains and local communities, according to latest figures from trade body UK Steel. The PM last week insisted steel is “absolutely vital to the UK”. He added: “We share the ambition of securing a decarbonised, sustainable and competitive future for the industry in this country.” The Mirror has been campaigning to Save Our Steel since 2015.

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Ben Glaze