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Tata Steelworkers Vote For Strike As Job Cut Fears Continue

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted May 10, 2024

Steelworkers from the union Community have overwhelmingly voted for a strike in response to impending job cuts at Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant.

Last month, the company declined a union-proposed plan to keep a blast furnace, putting up to 2,800 jobs at risk.

Over 85 percent of the Community’s members supported the move towards industrial action.

They oppose Tata’s shift toward a more environmentally friendly steel production method at the site in South Wales.

The Community national officer Alun Davies said: “Today our members delivered their verdict on Tata Steel’s job cuts plan, and they have voted to demand a better deal for the workforce.

“Community balloted more than 3,000 members across all Tata Steel UK production sites, and more than 85% have voted for industrial action.

“It should be noted this resounding mandate has been delivered in spite of the company’s bullying and unacceptable threats to slash redundancy payments.

“We will now be consulting our members on next steps, and we urge Tata to reconsider their position and get back around the table to head off a major industrial dispute.”

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The vote for industrial action isn’t isolated to Community members.

Unite members have also opted to strike, although the GMB union has not yet disclosed the outcome of its ballot.

Indian-owned Tata Steel announced in January that it would close two of the UK's four active blast furnaces.

It impacts the community and economy of Port Talbot, which heavily relies on the steelworks.

Tata Steel has announced plans to invest in a new electric arc furnace at Port Talbot.

It claims this will secure thousands of future jobs.

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