Tata Steel UK has initiated legal action against an employees’ union, terming a decision to strike as “unilateral” and warned potential early shutdown of operations at the Port Talbot facility.The union, Unite, called for a strike on July 8 in response to Tata Steel’s plans to shut blast furnaces three months earlier than planned. Unite described this move as the latest in a “long line of threats” and asserted that it would not deter them. The union also called for intervention from Tata Steel’s top management to settle the dispute.
“Following the announcement by Unite union to unilaterally call strike action from July 8, Tata Steel is unfortunately forced to commence legal action to challenge the validity of Unite’s ballot,” Tata Steel said in a statement.The company did not provide further details of the legal action.
“In the coming days, if we cannot be certain that we are able to continue to safely and stably operate our assets through the period of strike action, we will not have any choice but to pause or stop heavy-end operations (including both blast furnaces) on the Port Talbot site.
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“Tata Steel emphasised that shutting down operations would be “extremely costly and disruptive” throughout the supply chain, but the safety of people on the sites is the priority. The company urged Unite to withdraw the strike and consider its proposal, which includes “generous” employee support packages, training, and skills development.”Tata putting out a statement to shut or pause its blast furnaces three months earlier than they intended to is the latest in a long line of threats that won’t deter us,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement.
Graham stated that the union’s campaign is about securing the long-term future of steelmaking in the UK and highlighted that the union had secured serious investment from the labour department to safeguard jobs. “We call on the real decision makers in Mumbai to take hold of this dispute, sit down, negotiate, and realise that the investment secured will be good for the company and workers,” the statement added.
Earlier, on June 11, Tata Steel announced its intention to continue with the planned closure of heavy-end assets and the restructuring program at Port Talbot. The company had sought support from the UK government for its agreement to invest £500 million in the Electric Arc Furnace project, as the current heavy-end assets at Port Talbot are nearing the end of their operational life and are unstable.On June 21, Unite announced that around 1,500 workers in Port Talbot and Llanwern would strike indefinitely starting July 8 to protest against the 2,800 jobs that would be lost following the closure of the furnaces.
From: financialexpress
Financial News
