Tata Steel UK staff will start an “indefinite strike” on Monday, July 8, over planned job cuts.
The trade union Unite announced the industrial action on Friday, June 21.
In March, the Indian-owned conglomerate began shutting down coke ovens at its extensive Port Talbot facility.
These ovens, originally slated for closure in July, convert coal into coke, an essential component in steel production.
Unite said: “Around 1,500 Tata workers based in Port Talbot and Llanwern will begin all-out indefinite strike action over the company’s plans to cut 2,800 jobs and close its blast furnaces.
“The strike… will severely impact Tata’s UK operations. It is the first time in over 40 years that steel workers in the UK have taken strike action.”
The strike is the first industrial action by UK steel workers in over 40 years.
It is expected to disrupt Tata’s UK operations severely.
The walkout will begin just four days before the UK general election, in which the opposition Labour party is predicted to win significantly over the ruling Conservatives.
Unite: “Tata’s workers are not just fighting for their jobs — they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales”
Unite said: “Labour has also made emergency talks with Tata a priority if it wins the election.”
In January, Tata announced plans to close the coke ovens and two high-emission blast furnaces at Port Talbot, the UK’s largest steelworks, potentially losing up to 2,800 jobs.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Tata’s workers are not just fighting for their jobs — they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales.
“The strikes will go on until Tata halts its disastrous plans. Unite is backing Tata’s workers to the hilt in their historic battle to save the Welsh steel industry and give it the bright future it deserves.”
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The European steel industry faces major changes as it looks to fund less carbon-intensive production methods.
Tata aims to invest £1.25 billion ($1.58 billion) in electric arc furnace technology to reduce long-term carbon emissions.
The company said: “Our current steelmaking assets are nearing the end of their lifespan, are operationally unstable, and are incurring unsustainable losses of £1 million per day.
“This is why the closure preparations for the blast furnaces and associated plants at Port Talbot remain unchanged.
“However, if the safety and stability of our operations are jeopardized by this action, we will be compelled to expedite these closure plans.”
Tata also said its support offer to workers affected by the closure is “the most generous in our history.”
