Steel workers strike over pensions

Members of four trade unions working at Tata Steel will walk out for a day on June 22, and will ban overtime and work to rule from the middle of next week.

The move follows votes in favour of strikes in protest at the closure of their final salary pension scheme.

Around 13,000 workers are involved in the dispute, and the strike will be the first in the steel industry for 35 years.

Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the Community, said: “Tata have given us no option but take industrial action. The company has not shown any willingness to return to meaningful negotiations to find an end to this dispute. Our members are determined to stand up for their pensions.

“They delivered a massive vote in favour of industrial action, so that is what will happen. An overtime ban and work-to-rule will cause massive disruption to Tata’s operations and severely limit production. The company could avoid this by returning to the table. But in the meantime all the unions will also be making preparations for a national day of strike action on 22 June.”

Paul Reuter, national officer at Unite, said: “We are still open to talks if Tata are prepared for meaningful discussions. We have offered Tata the savings it says it needs. But the company wants to close the scheme altogether. This is not acceptable to workers, which is why industrial action will start next week.”

Dave Hulse, GMB national officer, said: “It’s time Tata got back round the table and looked for a way to resolve this dispute. Our members are ready for industrial action and the company should heed the message that their workforce is delivering.”

Nick Blundel, of Ucatt, said: “Tata should listen to its workforce and recognise that to resolve this dispute it needs to get back round the table with the unions for meaningful discussions. Industrial action is a last resort for any union but Tata has given us no choice.”

Unite’s Paul Reuter added: “Strike action is the last resort for our members, but they’ve signalled very clearly that they are not prepared to stand by and see the retirement they have worked so hard for, in such a physically demanding environment, robbed from them.

“We have offered the savings the company says it needs. Instead Tata Steel UK wants to financially penalise its workforce and force it to work another five years to get their full pension.

“We would urge the company to do the right thing and enter into further meaningful talks to avoid the disruption of industrial action.”