Hundreds of steelworkers and local residents in Port Talbot and Newport have taken to the streets to protest against the potential loss of thousands of steel jobs. Tata Steel, which employs 3,859 people in Port Talbot, has warned that 1,929 jobs are at risk due to the age and inefficiency of much of its operations at the location. The company has also identified 113 roles as being at risk at the nearby Llanwern site in Newport.
A total of 2,423 jobs across the UK are at risk. Unions have subsequently decided to ballot members on the possibility of strike action. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, told the crowd at the Port Talbot rally that almost 6,400 jobs had been lost in the UK steel industry since 2015. She blamed British politicians for the job losses and said that they had “failed” the country’s communities.
Tata Steel plans to replace its blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces. It has secured a commitment for £500m ($688m) from the UK government towards the £1.25bn cost of the project. The company has said that the restructuring provides an opportunity for it to transition to innovative and sustainable technology that will benefit the UK economy. The UK government has also offered £80m in direct support for those affected by the changes.
However, Labour MP for Aberavon, Stephen Kinnock, has criticised the deal for being inadequate for reducing carbon emissions. He has also questioned whether the government can guarantee that Tata Steel will deliver on its commitments to its employees and the planet. The Welsh government has called for further talks on a longer transition at Port Talbot to safeguard jobs
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