THE 4,500 Corus steelworkers in Scunthorpe are to receive a long-awaited jackpot bonus worth more than £1,000 per employee before Christmas in the wake of strike threats.

The climbdown by Corus came after voting started this week among 15 Community trade union branches on the Scunthorpe site over whether to ballot for industrial action.

More than 800 union colleagues in South Wales, Hartlepool and South Wales have already agreed on the ballot following the company's previous refusal to pay the quarterly bonuses covering the periods from April to September.

But in a statement released yesterday, a Corus spokeswoman said: "Corus is pleased to confirm that it has advised the trade unions that it will pay outstanding UK bonuses for April-September 2009.

"This decision was reached partly because the company expects to achieve its upcoming financial targets, despite trading conditions remaining extremely challenging.

"Corus also looks forward to positive discussions with the trade unions about future bonus structures that will reflect the overall company position."

Mick Fell, chairman of the Scunthorpe works multi-union committee, said: "This is the best news possible and a welcome boost for our members and their families in time for Christmas."

Community's national steel officer Roy Rickhuss, who will address a meeting of Scunthorpe shop stewards at the town's Sherpa Hotel tonight, said: "Community left no stone unturned in seeking a way to get back what our members worked hard for."

The bonus for the two quarters is said to amount to more than nine per cent of average earnings and are worth more than £1,000 per employee before tax.

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