Industrial Action to cause maximum damage to Tata Corus

22.02.10

Proposed industrial action targeting Tata Corus – the UK Steel giant – over their mothballing of Teesside Cast Products would be designed to cause maximum damage to the company with minimum damage to the workforce says Community Union. The mothballing will see 1,600 steel workers made redundant with a further 8,000 jobs lost in the surrounding community.

General Secretary, Michael J. Leahy said:

‘Tata Corus have walked away from Teesside. We know that there are a number of good faith offers on the table, yet Tata Corus are not interested.

Make no mistake; calling this mothballing is simply sugar coating a closure. A redundancy from a mothballed plant is the same as a redundancy from a closed plant. Community believes that this charade of mothballing is simply an attempt to profit from Teesside’ Carbon Credits. By selling on these Carbon Credits Tata Corus are picking the pockets of the Teesside workforce.

Community will be giving our members the opportunity to ballot for industrial action in support of Teesside. While the popular press may envisage a mass walkout, as a modern union we will be seeking to make surgical strikes that will cause maximum damage to Tata Corus and minimum damage to our members.

The message from Community is clear; we have not and will not give up on steel making on Teesside. The plant is a strategic resource and the foundation for a rejuvenated British manufacturing industry.