Workers at steel giant Tata protest against job cuts with strike

According to Unite, it would be the first time in over 40 years that steelworkers in Britain have gone on strike.

Workers at steel giant Tata will go on strike in protest against the company’s plans to close blast furnaces and thus cut jobs.

Unite said around 1,500 of its members in Port Talbot and Llanwern in South Wales will begin an indefinite strike on July 8.

Unite members are already working to the rule book and banning overtime, but the announcement of a strike represents a significant escalation.

Tata is switching to a more environmentally friendly form of steel production that requires fewer workers, resulting in up to 2,800 job cuts.

According to Unite, this is the first time steelworkers in the UK have gone on strike in over 40 years.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: “Tata workers are not just fighting for their jobs – they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of the steel industry in Wales.”

“Our members will not stand idly by while this immensely wealthy conglomerate seeks to dump Port Talbot and Llanwern in order to boost its overseas operations.

“They know that South Wales is ideally positioned to benefit from the coming green steel boom – if the right decisions are made.”

“The strikes will continue until Tata abandons its disastrous plans. Unite is fully supporting Tata workers in their historic fight to save the Welsh steel industry and give it the bright future it deserves.”