Steelworkers march for industry’s future

Steelworkers will march through Port Talbot this Saturday (11^th November) in a show of support for the industry in the town.

The march, which has been organised by the steelworkers’ union Community, comes in response to Tata’s short-sighted deal with the UK Government which would cost thousands of jobs in the town and at other steel sites across South Wales. Community are urging the company to reconsider their plans to move Port Talbot to an electric arc furnace-only site, and to look at alternative ways of decarbonising the works in a way that protect jobs and the long-term future of the industry in the UK.

The family friendly march will start from Memo Beach Cafe (SA12 6QW) at 10.45am before stopping at the Sunken Gardens at 11am to observe a two minutes silence for Remembrance Day.

The march will then move on to its conclusion at Aberavon Pier, where those taking part will join a communal gathering on Aberavon Beach organised by local football club Afan United. The event will see members of senior and junior sports clubs from Port Talbot and the surrounding areas join together in a show of solidarity for the steel industry.

Community Union’s National Officer for Steel Alun Davies said:

“Steel has been the lifeblood of Port Talbot for over 120 years, and nearly everyone in the town and the surrounding areas will know someone with a connection to the works. Community’s march on Saturday is an opportunity for the community in Port Talbot and beyond to come together in support of our steel industry.

 

“Steelworkers know just how vital decarbonisation is to the future of the sector, and that the steel they produce can play a vital role in helping the country go green.

 

“But the plans Tata have laid out are just decarbonisation on the cheap. Under their proposals, carbon emissions would be offshored to heavy-polluting countries which Britain would become reliant upon for virgin steel – steel which we should be producing here and is vital to our economy and security.

 

“This bad deal for steel would see thousands of dedicated, skilled, and passionate steelworkers thrown on the scrap heap; with UK taxpayer money being spent to support jobs around the globe, at the expense of jobs here.”

 

“It doesn’t have to be this way, and there’s a just transition for steel that’s available if Tata are prepared to show ambition and give our steel workforce the vote of confidence they deserve. The company need to pause and listen to the alternative proposals which our experts at Syndex will be publishing shortly.

 

“In the meantime, the community in Port Talbot will make its voice heard this Saturday: it’s time to save our steel, and give our industry its future back before it is too late.”

You can read Community Union’s most recent statement on the future of Port Talbot here: https://community-tu.org/port-talbot-update/#acbf7b7e

Community is the trade union for steelworkers, providing a first class service to those working in blue and white collar roles across steelworks, foundries and manufacturing. More steelworkers are members of Community than any other union. We have a history dating back over a century, representing members and campaigning to protect Britain’s steel industry. We are a modern trade union, campaigning for a better working world.