Tata Steel announcement – Welsh Lib Dems

Responding to the news that thousands of jobs could be at risk at Tata Steel, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated calls for an income support package and green skills programme to support those at risk at the plant.

Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds has previously called on the Welsh Government to pursue a Green Transition Basic Income, to protect workers and support their re-training and transition to new employment.

Commenting, Jane Dodds MS said:

“Workers at Tata and the community in Port Talbot have faced years of uncertainty and last-minute deals to protect jobs and the plant. This cannot continue.

“The UK Government and Welsh Government must work constructively together to secure a future for the plant and the thousands of people employed at Tata. The financial support from UK Government pales in comparison to the investment needed to protect jobs and transform the operations at Tata. Either the Conservatives don’t care about Wales and Port Talbot or lack the ambition Wales needs. This is also a damning indictment of the poor industrial and economic approach of successive Welsh Governments.

“Those workers whose jobs at risk urgent need an income support and training package to help them weather this storm, and up-skill or move to new employment. Workers and the community of Port Talbot cannot be left to pay for the failure of Governments in Cardiff Bay and London.”