NORTH-EAST steelworkers are on the brink of joining the first national dispute in more than 30 years, say union leaders, after pension talks collapsed.

The steel union Community called on Tata Steel bosses to consider resigning their positions as plans were unveiled to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) to future members.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/news/11801070.

Hundreds_of_steel_workers_set_to_learn_jobs_fate/

The decision was communicated today to a mass meeting of trade union representatives from across Tata Steel's UK operations, held at TUC Congress House in London.

The move comes as US billionaire Gary Klesch considers a deal to buy Tata's loss-making Long Products division which includes the Teesside Beam Mill, at Lackenby, near Redcar, and the Skinningrove special profiles plant, in east Cleveland.

Steel unions are now preparing to ballot their members for industrial action. Tata, which runs many former British Steel plants, employs about 750 workers across the North-East.

Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of the Community trade union and Chairman of the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee, which includes national representatives from Community, Unite and the GMB, said: "Tata Steel's decision to close the BSPS is unnecessary and profoundly disappointing. It is not a position we expected to find ourselves in given that trade unions have been in discussions with the company since early November. Throughout a long process we have acted in good faith and negotiated constructively in trying to reach an agreement which addresses what we acknowledge to be a significant deficit in the scheme.

“We have made every effort to compromise with the company, even discussing the possibility of meeting the deficit through changes to member benefits, despite the fact the company is legally obliged to pay for the deficit and has always done so in the past.

“Sadly, the company rejected this offer out of hand. It appears they are hell bent on closing the scheme and are not prepared to compromise. We have lost all faith in the company and its leadership, which has brought us to the brink of a major national industrial dispute for the first time in over 30 years. The senior management of Tata Steel Europe should seriously consider their positions for bringing about this total breakdown in trust.

“We feel we have no option but to consult our members and prepare to ballot for industrial action to defend their hard won pension rights.”