Tata Steel is reportedly set to close both its remaining blast furnaces at the Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales, which could impact around 3,000 jobs as per unions, ITV News learned on Friday. However, a few hundred roles may be saved during the transition period.
“Crushing Blow” to Steel Town
The closure of the two furnaces would deal a crushing blow to Port Talbot where Tata Steel is the main employer, labor groups have warned.
“Steelworkers and families will suffer,” said GMB union, alleging Tata ignored an “alternative plan” proposed by unions to avoid job losses. Unite has also accused Tata of “playing games” with livelihoods.
Tata was expected to announce decarbonization plans in November but delayed the decision after talks with unions. It has warned that UK steelmaking future hinges on securing government funding support.
Betrayal by UK Government Alleged
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock called Tata’s move a “betrayal” enabled by the Conservative government’s “managed decline approach” towards British steel industry.
First Minister Mark Drakeford also slammed the UK regime’s handling, saying it “chose to go ahead without us.”
While some job losses are inevitable during the net-zero transition, the phase-out period is key and must prevent skilled workers being “thrown on the scrapheap,” according to local Welsh leaders.
Instead, Tata should focus on retraining and reskilling employees for carbon-neutral steel production roles. But urgent state support is still imperative in the interim to safeguard livelihoods.
For Port Talbot, the furnace shutdowns mark the end of an era casting doubts over the destiny of its proud steelmaking legacy itself. Only government action can now prevent the collapse of another pillar of British manufacturing due to industrial decline.
