SENEDD VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO BACK OUR STEEL INDUSTRY IN CLEAR DIVISION WITH DOWNING STREET

Tuesday evening [06/02/2024] the Welsh Labour Party pushed a vote in the Senedd calling on all parties to back the steel industry in South Wales.

The motion as written was to propose that the Senedd:

1.           Believes there is a viable future for blast furnace steelmaking in Wales as part of a just transition that supports a stronger Welsh economy while protecting a UK sovereign asset.

2.           Supports the case for further talks that allow for a longer transition that protects jobs for an ambitious, greener future across TATA facilities in Wales.

The motion passed unanimously within the Senedd, with backing from all four parties including Welsh Conservative MSs. This shows a stark disconnect between the Conservative leadership in Number 10 Downing Street and Welsh Conservatives in Cardiff around the future of blast furnace steelmaking in Wales and its importance as a sovereign asset.

Community Union and GMB Union’ Multi-Union Plan is the only plan for steelmaking in South Wales that protects blast furnace production at the Port Talbot Steelworks.

Alasdair McDiarmid Assistant General Secretary for Community Union Said:

“Yesterday’s vote in the Senedd is a huge vote of confidence not only in our Multi-Union plan, but in steelmaking as a whole in South Wales. We welcome the cross-party support backing the continuation of blast furnace steelmaking at Port Talbot Steelworks and the recognition that it is a crucial sovereign asset for the UK.

“The fact that now even the Conservatives in Wales are challenging the deal between the UK Government and Tata shows clearly and unequivocally that both the Tory Government in Downing Street and the company leadership in Mumbai have gotten this deal extremely wrong. They need to listen to the unanimous voices in Wales calling on them to stop and look again at keeping the blast furnace in Port Talbot running during a longer transition period.

Under Tata and the Government’s devastating plan to install a 3mt EAF it is impossible to retain blast furnace steelmaking. The Multi-Union Plan to initially install a smaller EAF, so we can retain blast furnace steelmaking until the 2030s and ensure a just transition, is the only credible alternative.

“Community will continue to fight for our members interests, and yesterday’s vote shows that they, and we, have the backing of both the Welsh Government and the Welsh Senedd.”