Emergency talks to save steel jobs

EMERGENCY talks have been held by MPs and unions to thrash out an action plan to try and save jobs at the beleaguered Corus steelworks in Scunthorpe.

The meeting was held a day after Thursday's bombshell decision by Corus to axe further jobs in Scunthorpe - on top of the 500 announced last week.

At the meeting officials, which included council representatives and Scunthorpe MP Elliot Morley and Brigg and Goole MP Ian Cawsey, vowed to work together.

Mr Morley said:"I firmly believe Scunthorpe is well placed as a production site but we cannot ignore what is happening in steel markets internationally and we must do all we can working together to both protect jobs and promote the interest of the UK steel sector."

The implications of the global fall in steel demand, the current job losses in Scunthorpe, the proposed ballot that has now been withdrawn and future job implications was among the discussions.

Mr Cawsey said: "We have been working together with all the MP's who represent steel making but we must strengthen our partnership taking in local authorities, unions and the steel sector itself.'

The meeting looked at ways demand for steel could be encouraged and jobs protected and decided the best way forward was to strengthen lobbying for the industry.

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