Union leaders meet to discuss Corus job cuts
THE three main steel unions Communuty, GMB and Unite meet later today in Scunthorpe to discuss their response to the decision by Corus to axe a total of 866 jobs from the town's steelworks.
The National Steel Committee is expected at the meeting at the town's Redbourn Social Club to reaffirm its opposition to any compulsory redundancies.
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Union leaders are to meet to discuss Corus job cuts.
Corus chiefs in Scunthorpe have already started seeking volunteers for redundancy to help the company save £72-million by next March.
But skilled and key workers have been told they will not be considered for voluntary redundancies.
The unions are also due to discuss possible plans for a Save Our Steel rally in Scunthorpe and a mass meeting of the town's 3,500 trade unionists.
This Saturday, a delegation of steelworkers will join their colleagues on Teesside for a similar march in Redcar.
Last week Scunthorpe steel boss Sean Lyons said he could give 'no guarantees' there would be no more job losses on the town works.
Speaking to the Telegraph, My Lyons said he was still optimistic about steel-making in the town.
Mr Lyons, a former apprentice who was appointed as site director in June last year, said: "All we are doing is trying to resize the cost base of the organisation to match the order load that we see going forward.
"So therefore I can't guarantee things but I would love to think it was the end of it."
Mr Lyons said Corus originally expected the downturn in business would last for six months back in November but said that has not happened.
He said: "Our latest forecasters are suggesting it will take us years to come back to the level of 2008, so it is not possible for me to guarantee things."
When asked when he thought the industry would get back to back to profit making he stated: "When we get the right volumes and the right prices.
"The disappointing thing is the prices we have had, have really dropped we are getting half the amount that we were a year ago and of course it is very difficult to sustain that," said Mr Lyons.
"What we need is a bigger stimulus to demand capacity in works' steel, who knows what that might bring.
"Here in the UK a lot of our products do end up in the UK. It would be great to see some government based demand stimulus but I don't know whether they can do that or not."
Stay logged on to www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk for updates on today's meeting.
22 Comments
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by g, scunny
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 6:37AM
“The ministers have already said, they will not do anything except retraining, steel making is gone and they have accepted it, all out strike, get the backing of the dockers and dont handle any incoming steel, especially from India.”
by Topspec, C.E.S the higher spec end
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 6:32PM
“Wind turbines involve a lot of Low Carbon Stainless and High Chrome Bearing Steel.What you need is someone to order a a new Battleship.”
by Paul, Ashby
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 12:45PM
“What we need is to sell more steel. If we have to have those wind farms, why not build them out of BRITISH STEEL made in Scunthorpe?”
by IRONMAN, REDCAR
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 10:39AM
“I feel that striking is walking into their hands. The government should be more involved, after all they are the ones who take the biggest cut from our pay. If you would like more info or suggestions please email. number10pet@ntlworld.com”
by Howmuchmoredoyouwannatake, Scunny
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 5:19AM
“Striking is a last resort, but it epitomises the way the guys on the shop floor are feeling right now, how much more of the spin & bull are we to take, do we do nothing and let Corus/Tata run riot over us, or are we going to actually make a damned fight about this, tell them enough is enough, they have suckered the unions for years, who have pussyfooted around for so long, time to get your act together before it's too late! Industrial action of the highest order is what it is going to take for someone to take notice, enough is enough...”
by Rajesh Nikyaworks, Mumbai
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 1:34AM
“Wont be long now lads, off to india it goes where they will work for 400 pounds a year, nevermind as a bonus.”
by Curly, Scunny
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 1:15AM
“Please stop this stupid talk of strike action, some of us remember the last time we were corralled into that situation and this has the same kind of smell, this would mean breaking our contracts and give Tata the excuse they need to do whatever they want, I know they are doing that now but should we help them?. Can someone please propose a plan of action that is sensible because it is now becoming so frustrating just sitting and watching this happen and feeling defenceless.”
by wjefixit, scunthorpe
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 12:02AM
“30+years experience been through the strike that hurt us all!!no more canteens!services we could call on?will the demise ever stop,i doubt it they want to screw us good and proper.when we strike and we need to show our solidarity.no keeping this and that ticking over so they can pick up the pieces when we have all been shafted strike must mean strike stop all deliveries and supplies shut the place down right,this means organising the protest correctly across the country and to include all ports.please union leaders if we strike don,t make it a waste of time as corus would like lets stick together and realy show them we mean what we say”
by adrian, underground
Monday, July 13 2009, 8:08PM
“sorry dissulsioned.we are steelworkers and we are doing what we do best sit on our backsides...adrian”
by Disillusioned, here and there
Monday, July 13 2009, 7:53PM
“We are all becoming self centered over this. what we need to think about is the soldiers losing there lives abroad for no reason, local schools cutting their budgets and staff, contractors who worked side by side with us not 6 months ago, local buisness closing down and last but not least us Corus workers, instead of back biting at each other lets put all the energy together and have a day of protest, let this government know that we are proud to be british and not let them walk all over us. Be like the French stand for your rights. Or just sit back and let Lyons, the schools and local industry do as they want and shut up and accept it.”