Jobs at risk at Tata Steel's UK plant

A plan to shut down two blast furnaces and replace them with electric arc furnaces (EAFs) could lead to thousands of job losses at Tata Steel Port Talbot. Meanwhile, unions have already decided to fight proposed plans to end steel production in South Wales.

Tata Steel accounts for almost 50% of all jobs at Talbot Port. There are fears that the company's movement will lead to huge job losses. The decision faces strong opposition from unions, who said the company has not yet consulted its workforce on the proposal. The unions noted that it is absolutely shameful for the company to develop such a plan without trusting its workforce.

The steelworkers' unions decided to request urgent clarification from the company. The decision to end blast furnace production is deeply troubling and will not be taken. The proposed plan will devastate the city and society. The union is determined to fight to protect the livelihoods of its members and the future of the country's steel industry, he added.

The move to EAF will allow the company to apply for government funding through the Project Birch Fund, set up by the UK government to help companies recover from the impact of Covid-19.