Unite said it would be the first walkout in the sector in the UK in more than 40 years.
According to Daniel Binns, business reporter
Friday 21 June 2024 17:39 UK
About 1,500 Tata Steel workers will stage a “total indefinite strike” next month, the union has announced.
Industrial action at the company’s sites in Port Talbot and Llanwern, Newport, will begin on July 8, Unite said.
The union said the withdrawal would “severely affect” the company’s UK operations.
It comes in response to plans to close Tata Steel’s blast furnaces on South Waleswhich threatens 2,800 jobs.
The union said it would be the first time in more than 40 years that UK steelworkers have gone on strike.
members voted for moving in April.
Industrial action without a break, including government workers and a ban on overtime, started earlier this week.
Union general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Tata employees are not just fighting for their jobs – they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales.
“Our members will not stand by while this hugely wealthy conglomerate tries to scrap Port Talbot and Llanwern in order to boost its operations abroad.”
She added: “The strikes will continue until Dad stops his disastrous plans.
“Unite fully supports Tata workers in their historic battle to save the Welsh steel industry and give it the bright future it deserves.”
Read more: Uncertain future for Port Talbot as costs of going green drop
Tata Steel previously said it was losing £1m a day at Port Talbot and warned the situation was unsustainable.
The company said its plans, which include building an electric arc furnace, will mark the start of a new way of “competitive and greener” steelmaking.
The proposals were officially confirmed in January and its boss TV Narendran told MPs the decision was “pretty much” a done deal.
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Sky News first exclusively revealed details of plans in September 2023.
Tata Steel initially offered workers affected by the proposals an increased severance package, but this was reduced after industrial action following a strike began earlier this week.
Unions, including Unite, expect Labor to hold emergency talks with the firm if the incumbent wins general election.
Alun Davies, national steel officer for the Community union, which says it represents the “vast majority” of affected Tata workers, said it had decided with the GMB union that there would be no industrial action for now.
He added: “If the Labor Party wins the general election, it has said it will hold emergency talks with Tata.
“We welcome this and now feel it is important to wait for this process to be completed before taking any significant action.”
A Tata Steel spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed by Unite’s unilateral decision to call for industrial action.
“Our existing steel assets are at the end of their useful lives, are operationally unstable and are making unsustainable losses of £1 million a day. This is why preparations to close the blast furnaces and associated plants at Port Talbot are not changing.
“However, if the safety and stability of our operations are threatened by this action, we will be forced to accelerate these closure plans.
“Following extensive discussions with our unions, we have substantially improved our support offer for disabled staff – the most generous package in our history. Rather than strike action, we would expect Unite to put our improved offer to its members, as previously accepted by all.” trade unions, including Unite’.