Deeside MP Mark Tami to meet Business Secretary Sajid Javid today.

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Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami is to meet Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary Sajid Javid today.

Following the announcement that Tata Steel will cease operations in the UK, much of the UK Government focus has centered around the Port Talbot site which is reported to be losing £1m per day.

News of Tata Steel’s plans to sell its UK plants has left workers at the profit making Tata steel site in Shotton fearing for their jobs.

Mark Tami said;

“It is shocking that it has come to this. This crisis could have been avoided by the Tories who instead of intervening decided to take a back seat.

It will be interesting to hear what the Government now intends to do with the industry and in particular for the extremely profitable Shotton plant. I will make sure Shotton’s voice is heard.

[/text_output][gap size=”12px” id=”” class=”” style=””][line id=”” class=”” style=””][gap size=”8px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/6″][text_output][/text_output][/vc_column][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”5/6″][text_output]Commenting on Facebook to the news Mark Tami is meeting Sajid Javid,  Welsh Assembly candidate and chairman of Unite North East Wales Community branch, Bernadette Horton said:

“Shameful that the Business Secretary cannot see his way to coming to Shotton to speak with Mark Tami and see the profitable plant Shotton is for himself!”[/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][line id=”” class=”” style=””][text_output]Sajid Javid failed to heed industry warnings.

Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, speaking ahead of the opening of the sale process for Tata Steel’s UK business said:

“Steel is a foundation industry; it is essential for manufacturing, for our defence industries and for the wider economy. It is absolutely imperative that we secure a sustainable future for steel.

“We have been warning of the growing crisis facing the industry. Labour MPs raised the challenges facing steel over 200 times in Parliament since May. But Sajid Javid failed to heed the warnings, and as the industry reached crisis he jetted off on a jolly to Australia.

The Government has been asleep at the wheel – they need to get their act together fast. For the sake of the 40,000 workers and the steel communities that face an uncertain future the Government must do everything it can to ensure that a suitable buyer is found. The crisis also points to the dire need for an industrial strategy to support steel and our manufacturing sector.”[/text_output][text_output]Tata agrees sale of long products business

Tata has struck a deal to sell its UK long products business to investment group Greybull Capital for a “nominal” fee, a deal that could save 4,400 jobs.

The deal will see steelworks in Scunthorpe, two mills in Teesside, a mill in France and associated works in the North of England saved.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said:

“Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction for the long-term future of British steel manufacturing in Scunthorpe.

This point wouldn’t have been reached without the efforts of all those involved especially the high skilled workforce and local management. We will now look through the detail and stand ready to provide funding on a commercial basis if required.

The UK and Welsh Governments are working tirelessly to ensure that we can now reach a deal for Port Talbot and the other Tata sites across the UK. This agreement sends positive signals to any potential investor for the rest of Tata’s UK business.

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Sunny Scunnie: Scunthorpe steel works and industrial estate (Chris) / CC BY-SA 2.0

 

[/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said:

“The sale and purchasing agreement between Tata and Greybull Capital is testament to the commitment of a world class workforce.

It demonstrates that steel production can have a future here in the UK and that given a fighting chance it can be profitable. The workforce is making great sacrifices and we expect Greybull to stand by assurances that it is in it for the long term.

While the future of the Scunthorpe workforce looks more secure, we should not overlook the uncertainty and turmoil the rest of Tata Steel UK’s workers find themselves in.

With the sale process for the rest of Tata’s steel operations starting today, steelworkers across the remaining sites expect Tata to live up to its assurances that the business will be sold as a whole to a responsible buyer.”

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