Tata Steel Workers In UK To Start Indefinite Strike From July 8

The company announced the closures earlier in January as part of its plan to reverse the fortune of its loss-making entity in the UK by transitioning to lower carbon electric arc furnaces

The strike, set to begin on July 8, 2024, would be centered around the firm’s plans to shut down two blast furnaces ( Image Source :Tata Steel )

More than 1,500 Tata Steel workers in the UK are set to begin an indefinite strike soon, the trade union, Unite, said on Friday. The strike, set to begin on July 8, 2024, would be centered around the firm’s plans to shut down two blast furnaces. This shutdown is expected to impact up to 2,800 jobs, the union informed.

The strike has been described as the first strike by British steel workers in four decades. The strike will take place at the company’s Port Talbot and Llanwern sites in Wales, reported Moneycontrol.

The company announced the closures earlier in January as part of its plan to reverse the fortune of its loss-making entity in the UK by transitioning to lower carbon electric arc furnaces. The proposal is backed by £500 million funded from the government.

Commenting on the strike, Sharon Graham, General Secretary, Unite, said, “Tata’s workers are not just fighting for their jobs - they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales.”

Notably, Tata Steel has a workforce of over 8,000 people in the UK. The job cuts announced by the firm in January are expected to be implemented over the next 18 months. 

Reacting to the strike, a spokesperson for Tata Steel, said, “We are extremely disappointed by Unite’s unilateral decision to call strike action. Our existing steelmaking assets are near the end of their life, are operationally unstable and causing unsustainable losses of £1 million a day. This is why preparations to close the blast furnaces and associated plants in Port Talbot are unchanged.” 

“However, if the safety and stability of our operations are put at risk by this action, we will be forced to accelerate those closure plans. After extensive negotiations with our unions we substantially improved our support offering for affected employees – the most generous package in our history. Rather than taking strike action, we would have expected Unite to put our improved offer to its members, as previously accepted by all unions, including Unite,” the spokesperson added.