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Tata steel secures jobs at Port Talbot, says trade unions

By Bianca Boorer

Date: Wednesday 07 Dec 2016

Tata steel secures jobs at Port Talbot, says trade unions

(ShareCast News) - Indian steel-making company, Tata Steel has committed to secure jobs and production at Port Talbot as well as other steelworks across the UK according to trade unions.
Tata assured Community Union, Unite and GMB on a number of "significant" measures including a guaranteed minimum five-year commitment to keeping the two blast furnaces at the Port Talbot plant, a 10 year £1bn investment plan to support steelmaking at the site, avoiding compulsory redundancies for five years and a consultation on replacing the current pension with a "defined contribution scheme" involving maximum contributions of 10% from the company and 6% from employees.

Community Union General Secretary Roy Rickhuss said: "This proposal would secure jobs for years to come and bring serious investment not just to Port Talbot but to steelworks across the UK. Reaching this stage of the process is a credit to the hard work of our members who never gave up the fight to 'Save Our Steel' - it was their jobs on the line and it has been their campaign that has brought Tata to this position."

He added that the pension proposal however was "a serious concern" and that union representatives have agreed to ballot all members on the proposal in the new year.

"The commitments made today by our reps must now be followed by a commitment from the government that they will hold Tata to their word and ensure jobs are protected," he said.

Dave Hulse, GMB's national officer, added that the unions would "continue to fight for a level playing field for our industry; for action on energy costs, on business rates, and on the dumping of foreign steel".

Tata plant jobs were put in jeopardy after the manufacturer announced its initial intention to sell its UK assets in March. This was then put on hold when the company considered a European tie-up with German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp.

Almost 7,000 people are employed by Tata steel across Wales, including more than 4,000 at Port Talbot.

Director of UK Steel Gareth Stace said: "This news will bring great relief to the workers involved, their communities and the wider industry and is a testament to the dedication of the work force and company to find a solution. The drive to save our steel sector must not end here though. This good news must now be backed up by Government through a long-term strategic plan, firmly embedded within a wider industrial strategy, that secures the future of the thousands of livelihoods and businesses relying on this critical industry."

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