THE return of the Scunthorpe steelworks to a three blast furnace operation remains overshadowed by the threat of strike action.

Leaders from the company's four main trade unions meet in London later today to draw up their plans for a ballot on whether to take industrial action, over the closure of the Corus plant at Teesside with the loss of 1,600 jobs.

Earlier the unions, Community, GMB, Unite and UCATT, had given Corus a 14-day stay of execution to allow the company time to open good faith negotiations with potential buyers for Teesside Cast Products (TCP) at Redcar.

Today, the national steel co-ordinating committee will consider what action, if any, Corus has made.

Michael Leahy OBE, the national general secretary of Scunthorpe's main steel union Community, warned: "Time is running out for Teesside, yet Corus seems to continue to just defend its decision.

"Despite close to 1,600 redundancies and the loss of key skills that will cripple the potential for future growth in the industry, Corus seems to simply be going through the motions.

"Community Union is again calling upon Corus to demonstrate good faith negotiations with the interested parties to keep Teesside a going concern.

"The lack of action from Corus is a deliberate slap in the face to every loyal and dedicated steel worker across the country.

"Reluctantly, Community and the other trade unions will continue to explore the potential for 'last resort' industrial action."

Third furnace to reopen.

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