Since this article was written, Tata Steel senior management have threatened bringing forward the closure of the blast furnaces in Port Talbot. This is a clear attempt to intimidate steelworkers at Port Talbot and Llanwern as Unite members prepare for indefinite strike action from Monday 8 July.
What is the actual process that Tata would implement its threat to stop/pause production of the blast furnaces? When would it start and how long would it take? And who would actually undertake it?
This shows why the other two steel unions – Community and the GMB should now join with Unite and make it clear to Tata that there will be no complying with instructions to turn off blast furnaces and a total stoppage if it is attempted.
There should also be an immediate call on Keir Starmer (who is likely to be Prime Minister a week today) to intervene if Tata act, and bring in emergency legislation to nationalise Tata.
Tory Prime Minister Ted Heath nationalised Rolls Royce in 24 hours in 1971.
The whole trade union movement must now come to the aid of the steel unions and their members. There must be a mass mobilisation of solidarity for the strike action from 8 July.
Alec Thraves, Swansea Socialist Party and Swansea Trades Council
In a bold and decisive escalation of industrial action, Unite the Union has announced the beginning of indefinite strike action at Tata’s Port Talbot and Llanwern plants from 8 July.
This move will be welcomed by many steelworkers, community campaigners and the wider trade union movement, who are determined to retain primary steel production, secure all the steel jobs and to provide a future for the younger generation in Port Talbot, Newport and the surrounding areas.
Tata bosses’ intransigent and bullying methods are being confronted by a Unite membership that recognises militant industrial action is the only language this brutal multinational corporation understands.
Community and GMB unions, which have also voted for industrial action, should now urgently engage with their members to join Unite in their all-out strike action in a united front against this vicious employer.
Nationalise
Four days after the certain return of a Labour government, Starmer will face his first test in defending working-class struggle or bending to Tata’s big business plans for a jobs and community devastation.
Keir Starmer, prime minister in waiting, and Vaughan Gething, the Labour Welsh first minister, should use the election campaign to announce the immediate nationalisation of Tata Steel as the first priority of the incoming Labour government at Westminster.
Tata bosses have arrogantly and contemptibly dismissed both the Unite and the Community/GMB proposals for a transition to green steel production and are insistent both furnaces are shut down, with several thousand direct Tata employees and contractors losing their jobs.
Bringing Tata back to the negotiating table with ‘a better deal for steel’ is unfortunately, a ship that has long sailed away. There is a growing recognition amongst steelworkers and their supporters that the billions of pounds of investment needed to secure a green transition can only come from direct government intervention and public ownership.
This pending industrial battle has to be politically linked up to the demand for nationalisation of steel under democratic workers’ control and management, with compensation paid only on the basis of proven need – which means no compensation to the Tata bosses!
Steelworkers and their communities will expect to see newly elected Labour MPs on their picket lines promoting that demand.
The Wales TUC must also enact its recent Congress’s call for all-out support for the steelworkers by mobilising their affiliated unions to form part of the mass picket lines that will be necessary on 8 July, the first day of strike action.
This is a battle that can be won, and we must mobilise both industrially and politically to save steel, save jobs and save our communities.
We say: ‘Nationalisation not devastation!’
Unite Tata strike fund appeal
This is the first strike action involving steelworkers in the UK for 40 years. The action is fighting the decimation of jobs, communities and the steel industry. An initial 2,800 jobs are due to be wiped out. This is a campaign we must win. Support and solidarity will be key, especially financial support in light of this being all-out, indefinite strike action. We are therefore launching a financial appeal. Donations will be used to directly support striking members. Below are the financial details. Please reference any donation as “strike fund”.
Unity Trust
Unite wab 2051 branch
Sort code: 608301
Acc no: 20286655
Messages of solidarity and for further detail, contact [email protected]
