Tata is moving forward with the closure of blast furnaces at its South Wales site, leading to a loss of up to 2,800 jobs and impacting firms that supply the plant. Unions are issuing warnings of potential industrial action in response to the job losses. The company has pledged a £130 million support package to help workers retrain or find new jobs, but unions argue that the decision will be devastating for the South Wales economy and the steel industry as a whole.
Tata’s decision comes after rejecting union proposals that they claim could have saved jobs. Alun Davies, a national officer at the Community union, expressed disappointment with Tata, stating that members feel let down and declaring that industrial action is a potential next step. Similarly, Unite’s Wales secretary Peter Hughes noted that members are angry and frustrated, willing to take any action necessary to preserve steel making at Port Talbot, including industrial action. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated the government’s commitment to support the British steel industry.