Community Union General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE said:
“Today marks an incredibly sad and poignant day for the British steel industry and for the communities in and around Port Talbot which are so intricately connected to blast furnace steelmaking.
“It’s also a moment of huge frustration – it simply didn’t have to be this way. Last year Community and GMB published a credible alternative plan for Port Talbot which would have avoided the need for compulsory redundancies and ensured a fair transition to green steelmaking for the workforce. Tata’s decision to reject that plan will go down as an historic missed opportunity.
“Through months of intense and challenging negotiations, we have secured firm commitments from Tata on future investment in Port Talbot steelmaking. The deal we negotiated, which has been strengthened by the intervention of the Labour Government, represents a significant improvement on the dreadful deal between Tata and the previous government.
“However, this will be of little consolation to those who are losing their jobs. We will support those workers in every way we can, including through the employment and skills Support Centre we have opened in the heart of Port Talbot, in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government.
“The closure of Blast Furnace 4 marks the end of an era, but this is not the end for Port Talbot. We will never stop fighting for the future for the steel industry and our communities in South Wales.”
If you are a member of Community and need advice or support, please contact our Service Centre at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
© Community Trade Union 2026
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