UK steel "On the precipice of disappearing" say Scunthorpe union members

Unite union calling for support for UK steel
Author: Laurence GriffinPublished 21st Sep 2023

Unite union members and steel workers gathered outside Scunthorpe Steel Works, calling on the government to reverse the decline in the steel industry.

The union's demands include ensuring public contracts use more UK steel, and investing ÂŁ1 billion annually for 12 years for an industry transition to green steel.

They also argue for energy price caps to allow steel to be made more cheaply, to compete with foreign markets.

We have a steel industry which is absolutely on the precipice of disappearing entirely.

Tata Steel was given millions of pounds in government funding, leading to questions about the help given to steel works such as Scunthorpe's.

Martin Foster is from Unite the union.

He's also a steelworker at the Scunthorpe site.

He told us: "We've been through one restructure after another, one round of job cuts after another - it seems never ending."

"At the moment we have a steel industry which is absolutely on the precipice of disappearing entirely."

As the steel industry has shrunk so has the town.

"This town's grown up around the steel - if you Google earth Scunthorpe and the steelworks - the steelworks is almost the same size as the town."

"The town's thrived as a result of the steel industry as the steel industry has shrunk so has the town."

"We're known in the UK for making top quality steel and always have been."

"When you look at some of the projects around the country that have taken place over the years - take the new Forth Road bridge there's around 32 thousand tonnes of steel in that."

"Not one ounce of it is UK steel."

The Government has previously said talks about possible investment have been taking place and it is committed to the industry."

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