Tata Steel considers early blast furnace shutdown at Port Talbot
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Update time : 2024-07-02 17:11:54
Tata Steel may pause or halt some blast furnace operations at its Port Talbot plant in Wales ahead of schedule while contesting the legality of a strike by trade union Unite. Unite announced that around 1,500 workers would start an indefinite strike on July 8 in response to Tata's plan to close two blast furnaces and cut up to 2,800 jobs.
A Tata Steel spokesperson stated that the company is compelled to challenge the validity of Unite's strike ballot legally. They added that if they cannot ensure the safe and stable operation of their assets during the strike, they will have to pause or stop operations, including both blast furnaces, at Port Talbot.
The closures, announced in January, are part of Tata's strategy to switch to lower-carbon electric arc furnaces, supported by £500 million of government funding. Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham responded, saying Tata's threats won't deter them.
