THE MERGER WILL MEAN CERTAINTY FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS WALES AND THE UK AS A WHOLE AFTER A DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR THE STEEL INDUSTRY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SAYS GMB UNION
GMB, the steel union, has welcomed the merger between TATA and ThyssenKrupp creating Europe’s second biggest steel manufacturer.
The deal has been on the cards since a memorandum of understanding was published last November, outlining the two company’s plans to merge into a ‘competitive player in the European Steel Industry’. [1]
The deal brings greater certainty to Tata’s 6,500 workers in Wales, including more than 3,500 at Port Talbot.
After pressure from GMB, and sister steel unions Unite and Community, Tata-ThyssenKrupp has also committed to avoid making any compulsory redundancies until October 2026. [2]
The deal will also see £75million to extend the life of Blast Furnace 5 at Port Talbot.
The work is set to go ahead this year with the business case for a full relining of the Furnace to be made in the coming years – a key demand from GMB and other unions.
The merger is a real boost for the steel industry which has faced a turbulent recent history.
British Steel faced a crisis back in 2015 due to Chinese ‘dumping’ on the European markets with renewed fears just last month in light of the 25% tariffs on Steel Imports imposed by Donald Trump in the USA. [3]
JEFF BECK, GMB REGIONAL ORGANISER FOR GMB SAID :
“We’re pleased to see this deal go through today and welcome the decision to avoid compulsory redundancies until 2026.
“The merger will mean certainty for thousands of families across Wales and the UK as a whole after a difficult period for the Steel Industry over the last few years. “
ROSS MURDOCH, NATIONAL OFFICER FOR GMB SAID:
“Along with our sister unions in Tata Steel, GMB has always strived to secure jobs and long-term investment for the highly skilled workforce within Tata Steel UK.
“We will continue to ensure jobs and investment remain the key underpinning priorities within any final joint venture, which must equate to opportunities for our members in the UK, particularly after the difficult and uncertain recent times they have faced.”
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