Corus begins talks on job cuts

ONE-TO-ONE consultations have started with hundreds of Corus steelworkers in Scunthorpe whose jobs are under threat.

It is now more than four months since Corus chiefs put forward proposals to axe up to 866 jobs in the town.

But the company has not disclosed how many volunteers have come forward to meet that proposed target and how many jobs have been axed to date.

Mick Fell, the chairman of the Scunthorpe works multi-union committee, said: "It is too early to ascertain actual numbers who will leave under the restructuring announcements."

The works leader reiterated the trade unions would oppose 'hard redundancies' if the company failed to find enough volunteers by a Christmas deadline.

Mr Fell added: "Our record in Scunthorpe on hard redundancies is good and we shall make every effort to maintain that record going forward.

"Discussions are still ongoing with Corus and many departments and areas on the Scunthorpe site."

Corus spokeswoman Rachel Cox said it was not possible at this stage to confirm the final tally of redundancies in the town.

She added: "Corus managers have started one-to-one consultations with employees who may be affected by the restructuring proposals announced earlier this year.

"When making redundancies we will seek to utilise volunteers where possible.

"But we must ensure the capability of plants or departments is not jeopardised."

Corus has been told by its owners at Tata Steel to make savings of £1-billion throughout Europe by March 31 2010.

Tata’s newly-appointed managing director Hemant Nerurkar told The Economic Times in India: "Strong measures can never be easy. It is very difficult to adopt such steps.

"You have to adopt a human approach in such situations."

The Tata chief added he believed the economic slide in Europe had stopped - but recovery would take some time.

Kirby Adams, the managing director and chief executive of Tata Steel Europe, the holding company for Corus group, said there were signs of an improvement in Europe since the last quarter.

Mr Adams added: "We are deriving strength from inventory restocking and some speculative buying in steel."

Corus will announce its first half-yearly financial results on November 26.