Steel Job Losses 'A Crushing Blow'

Trade unions are describing a decision to mothball steel production in Scotland as "a crushing blow"

It's been confirmed 2 plants in Lanarkshire are to close, with 270 jobs at risk. Cheap imports from China are being blamed for a halt in productioon in the UK - Tata is the latest in a number of Steel companies to pull out of the country.

Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said: "The complacency with which many seem to accept the demise of yet another manufacturing industry is disgraceful and belies ignorance about the ways in which other countries have coped more effectively with the pressures of globalisation.

"The STUC and the steel trade unions are not blind to global economic forces. The collapse in the steel price has obvious consequences for Scottish production just as the falling oil price has inevitably affected the North Sea.

"Yet the least workers in both plants can expect is a level playing field. It is unacceptable that China is able to dump its steel at below the cost of production and that the support provided to the UK steel industry, like other energy intensive sectors, receives nothing like the support available to the sector in other European countries."

The Scottish business minister is to chair a taskforce examining alternatives to the closure of Tata Steel plants in Scotland. Fergus Ewing with join plant bosses and union leaders to discuss the possible redundancies. He said:

"The Scottish Government’s priority is finding a way to continue with commercial production at the sites.

"Since Tata Steel first announced the potential sale of its Long Products Division last year, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have been in constant contact with the company and trade unions, exploring every possible option to keep these plants operational.

"Building on the significant amount of work that has taken place and given the potential impacts on the workforce, local communities and wider industry in Scotland, I am now convening a joint Scottish Steel Task Force to work closely with Tata Steel, trades unions, local councils and politicians.

"I will be writing to the UK Government to urge them to respond quickly to industry demands for action and to play their full part in our efforts to keep these plants open."