After more than a century, Port Talbot’s steelworks, which has provided jobs for thousands of families, is facing a drastic cut in its workforce with plans to close down its second blast furnace. The community is deeply rooted in the steel industry, and many families have spent generations working at the plant. For Steven Partridge, who retired last year, steel is in the DNA of Port Talbot. He says that the city lives and breathes steel, and there are cafes, taxis, and shops that are all linked to steelworks.
Most of the town’s only male voice choir, Cymric Choir, comprises employees of Tata Steel’s Abbey Works. The choir, established in 1911, has had decades of employment at the steelworks. Although the work at the plant is tough, dirty, and noisy, Peter Sharp, who also worked in the pick line, recalls exceptional camaraderie among colleagues.
Steve Williams of the Cymric Choir entered his family’s sixth generation to work at this site. His daughter and grandson still work at the plant. He vividly recalls spending his childhood days with his father at the plant. Steve was locked out of work for 26 weeks with two young children and no pay in the early years of his apprenticeship and remembers how his wife had to find a part-time job.
Angharad Young, the choir’s pianist, is a teacher at a local primary school. Aside from her grandfather, she says that several of her students also have family members employed at the steel plant. She admits that the steel plant is of great concern to her and admits that it has been known to cause environmental damage. She is proud of steel and claims that the user is proud to claim that someone in their family works at the plant.
The people of Port Talbot are worried about the current cuts in jobs at the plant. While the industry has a significant impact on the lives of this community, boosting its economy and providing thousands of jobs, it also comes with risks and environmental concerns. It is hoped that the government will provide significant support to this community, especially for those who have lost their livelihoods after generations of working at the plant
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