A STEEL maker has reiterated attempts to resolve a pension row, as workers begin voting over strike action.

Tata Steel, which supports about 750 Teesside jobs, says it remains open for talks, despite unions today (Wednesday, May 6) posting ballot papers to staff.

The unrest centres on Tata’s proposals to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS).

Steel unions Community, GMB, and Ucatt last week gave official legal notice about their intention to ballot members, with Unite due to follow suit.

The unions previously said the BSPS had 143,000 members as of late last year, with assets of about £13.6bn, adding the vote is due to close on Friday, May 29.

Workers have been urged to strike, which, if they do, will see them join the first national dispute in more than 30 years.

However, Tata, known for operating the Teesside Beam Mill, near Redcar, and a special profiles plant, in Skinningrove, east Cleveland, said bosses remain open for talks.

A spokesman said: “We started discussions with our unions last year about the need to modify our final salary pension scheme because of its increasing deficit.

“The unsustainable growth in the deficit is mainly due to people living longer and low returns in the financial markets.

“We proposed modifications to the final salary pension scheme, which would have enabled it to remain open to future accrual.

“But an agreement could not be reached with the unions, which prompted the start of a consultation process on proposals to switch the majority of UK employees to different, though still very competitive, pension arrangements.

“We are now fully consulting with employees about these proposed changes and will consider employees’ views before making a final decision.

“The company remains open to unconditional talks with the unions.”

He added the result of any vote will have no impact on its ongoing talks with US billionaire Gary Klesch, who is looking to buy its loss-making Long Products division, which includes the Teesside Beam Mill.

However, a Community spokesman refuted Tata’s claims over the pension row, saying the company is not being helpful.

He added: “We have made it clear that we would welcome meaningful talks with Tata to find a solution to the current challenges faced by the scheme.

“However, Tata has thus far refused to remove the threat of scheme closure, which means that any discussions would not be meaningful.”