Steel staff poised to walk out
THE 3,500 trade union members on the Scunthorpe Corus steelworks remain on tenterhooks about a ballot for industrial action over the company's decision to mothball its plant in Redcar and the loss of 1,600 jobs.
The ballot failed to get the go-ahead last night following a meeting in London between the leaders of four unions Community, GMB, Unite and UCATT.
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Union members at Corus steelworks in Scunthorpe are waiting to learn if they will go on strike over a decision to mothball a plant in Redcar.
In a joint statement, the national trade union steel co-ordinating committee said: 'We remain to be convinced about the progress that is being made and we understand compulsory redundancy notices have been issued, which does not demonstrate a commitment to the future of Teesside.
'This is not just about Teesside but it is also about the future of the UK steel industry.
"There is a pattern of systemic failure to consult with the workforce about major changes within the company and a breakdown in industrial relations.
"We have serious concerns about the leadership of Corus – we see a company in meltdown.
"In the coming weeks, all unions united together, will be getting out across the country to hear our members' concerns about the future of UK steel-making.
"We have still not ruled out balloting our membership for industrial action but this will be an action of last resort and we hope Corus will demonstrate the necessary progress to avoid this outcome."
The ballot action was threatened after Corus failed to respond to a 14-day stay of execution to start talks with potential buyers for the mothballed Teesside Cast Products (TCP).
Company chiefs last night refused to make any comment about the possibility of industrial action.
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
16 Comments
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by Discharge Man, In the doghouse
Thursday, March 18 2010, 8:06PM
“Sticks & stones etc. Keep it in the playground please.”
by ian, scunthorpe
Thursday, March 18 2010, 2:16PM
“The telegraph is becoming a comic, sorry it is a comic it see's a thread & before you know it it's made a rope.Now do the decent thing & appologise to your readers for your absolute trash in this story. Please remember a lot of steelworkers might suddenly decide not to buy the local comic any more.”
by coldos, ruggy
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 11:18AM
“Brigg man!
that's what happens when you don't look at the big picture. no xxs needed, this is not a text. 2016. boycott tetley, punjana superior.”
by jamz pee faz, teesside
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:44PM
“to late for strike action now, teesside doomed you look after yourselves, pity they wouldnt let people move elsewhere, they wanted our skills left on tside hopeing furnace will open again, i hope so but they just stopped our boys gettin jobs elswhere and the people they replaced gettin there redundo god bless you all.parmojim.”
by joesmoggs, teesside
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 5:50PM
“the lads at scunthorpe know whats best for themselves.teessides history now.good luck scunny and port talbot.long live steelmaking in the uk .gordon will look after us.”
by Charger Man, In the clock house
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:37PM
“Duurgh.
RU 55
You don't have to have broken brains to guess who posted that comment.
The thing is RU 55 the vast majority of people on the works, not just the Plate Mill wouldn't strike, so are we all scabs?”
by RU 55. Not quite, Would have got me pension
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:15PM
“The thing is though theres 1 scab at the plate mill who wouldnt strike. He's a SHame to the other lads.”
by marc, scun
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 3:32PM
“I too am fed up of THIS paper stiring things up!! you sound as if YOU want the works to close!! as for strike don't think so not when we have worked so hard this last 18 months”
by Roger the Raft, scunthorpe
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 3:17PM
“Gutter journalism from a gutter press paper.
It should be responsible to the community it serves.”
by Fred, Scunny
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 2:18PM
“More sensationalism from the Telegraph.
Industrial action is mentioned not striking.
Until you have some news to report you should not speculate.
As for striking - there is no chance of Scunthorpe steelworkers doing that..”