There will be crisis talks between Tata Steel bosses and union leaders at the firm's plant in Port Talbot on Wednesday, reports the Mirror. It is understood that executives from the Indian-owned steel giant flew into Britain after last week's controversial deal.
The package announced on Friday will see the site given up to £500m by the UK Government, with the company investing a further £700m, as part of an effort to produce steel in a greener way. Tata has published details of its agreement with the UK Government to invest £1.25bn into the Port Talbot steelworks to install electric steel recycling furnaces and shut down the two primary steel-making blast furnaces.
But unions have raised concerns that 3,000 jobs will reportedly be lost at Port Talbot as part of the process as electric arc steelmaking, which involves recycling previously-used steel instead of making 'virgin steel', needs fewer staff.
Read more: Tata and UK Government deal accused of 'too little detail' and providing 'too many questions'
The Mirror reports that a 'showdown' is due to take place, with its sources warning all options for protecting posts remain on the table. A Community spokesman told the Mirror: "Last week's announcement was a bad deal for our steel industry. We want to work with Tata and the Government to deliver a decarbonisation strategy that respects our red lines and crucially protects our members' jobs through ensuring a just green transition. There will be a series of consultation meetings and we will be clear to Tata that we will do whatever it takes to protect our members' interests."
GMB national officer Charlotte Brumpton-Childs said: "Unions have called for an urgent meeting with Tata bosses over job losses across the UK. The Tata UK Steel Committee has been convened and will meet on Wednesday."
According to the latest figures from trade body UK Steel, Britain’s £2.9billion steel sector directly employs 39,800 workers and supports another 50,000 in supply chains and local communities. UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said the pact was “good for the taxpayer, good for the workforce” when visiting Port Talbot to announce the agreement on Friday, September 15. Government sources said without the deal – Port Talbot moving to electric arc technology – 8,000 jobs would have been lost instead of 3,000.
