Steel strike looms closer in TCP battle (From The Northern Echo)

Steel strike looms closer in TCP battle

7:44pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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A STRIKE ballot among thousands of steelworkers looks to be looming closer tonight after unions accused Corus of failing to demonstrate sufficient progress in saving the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant.

The National Steel Co-ordinating Committee, which represents all unions in Corus, met yesterday to decide its next move, at the end of a two week "olive branch" it had offered the firm.

Corus has started mothballing the site, by the end of which 1,600 workers could have been made redundant.

In February unions had announced their intention to ballot thousands of steel workers for industrial action in protest at the mothballing of TCP.

But they decided to hold off because they were convinced credible buyers were interested in it.

In a statement two weeks ago the committee said it was giving Corus a 14-day period of grace to "demonstrate their willingness to find an alternative future for Teesside" by meeting with potential investors.

However after meeting again yesterday the unions seemed unconvinced that progress had been made.

The Community union said that hundreds of redundancy notices have already been issued, warning that the ‘‘clock was ticking’’ for Corus to avoid industrial action.

Michael Leahy, leader of Community, said: ‘‘We remain to be convinced about the progress that is being made and we understand compulsory redundancy notices have been issued, which does not demonstrate a commitment to the future of Teesside.

‘‘This is not just about Teesside but it is also about the future of the UK steel industry. There is a pattern of systemic failure to consult with the workforce about major changes within the company and a breakdown in industrial relations.

‘‘We have serious concerns about the leadership of Corus - we see a company in meltdown.

‘‘In the coming weeks, all unions united together will be getting out across the country to hear our members’ concerns about the future of UK steelmaking.’’ Keith Hazlewood, national officer of the GMB, said: ‘‘Corus has shown a pattern of contempt for its workforce and the unions and industrial relations are at an all-time low.

‘‘We want to see dramatic changes in attitude from the company in the interests of Teesside and plants across the UK.’’ The Northern Echo was unable to contact anyone from Corus for comment last night.

TCP had signed up a consortium of four companies to buy 80 per cent of its steel for a decade, with the remainder going straight to Corus' own plants.

But the consortium, Marcegaglia of Italy, South Korea's Dongkuk, Switzerland's Duferco and Alvory of Argentina, stunned Corus last year when it announced it was ending the contract.