More than 130 signatures on open letter to save Teesside steel industry
They will come together later to sign a giant version of the letter
More than 130 Teesside businesses, community groups, sports and social clubs have signed an open letter calling on the Government to save the region’s steel industry.
Representatives from across the community will come together at the Grangetown Generations Voluntary Community Organisation at 5pm to sign a giant version of the letter.
Abigail Stringer, owner of DC Mobility, said: “Traditional British steel went worldwide from Teesside. Teesside steel built the world. The decline has had a massive effect on the communities around Redcar. It used to be a job for life but the decline has decimated families. I’m disgusted in the government at allowing cheap Chinese steel to be imported and I back unites workers plan for the steel industry.”
Kelly Simpson, from the Pig & Whistle pub, said: “The demise of the steel industry has had a massive effect on the town. Redcar is like a ghost town with the amount of shops closing. Contractors used to come in here and use the local B&Bs but there are no contractors now, so this has directly affected our pub. My own husband is out of work now because jobs are hard to find on Teesside. I totally back Unites pledges for the UK steel industry.”
Redcar Rugby Union Football Club’s Derek Young said: “The demise of the steel industry has lost us players. Instead of having three teams we now only have one and a half. The players used to have jobs in the local area and now they work away on the rigs or wherever they can find work.”
The letter states:
We are a coalition of local businesses, community groups, sports and social clubs in Teesside speaking up together in support of our steel industry and its workers.
Teesside’s steel industry is a hugely important employer, providing quality jobs for local people. Its future represents the future of our community and businesses. That future is now uncertain.
For too long the UK steel industry has suffered from patchy investment and short-term vision.
Our politicians, of all stripes, need to stand up and commit to securing a long-term future for the industry before steel communities like ours suffer the same fate as mining and industrial communities did in the 1980s.
Back then, the government sat idly by and allowed communities to suffer. They can’t be allowed to do the same again. Instead, they should commit to the investment needed to make the UK a European leader in green steel and secure the jobs that our community relies on.
For communities to thrive they need decent jobs. It is the role of government to ensure that communities have a secure future.
Our politicians should commit to:
· Change procurement rules to let UK public contracts use 100 per cent UK steel. This alone can create thousands of jobs.
· Public investment for a Steelworkers’ Transition Plan with NO loss of jobs. Phased workers’ transition to Green Steel – while doubling capacity to rebuild our industry and grow jobs.
Commenting on the letter, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The businesses and communities of Teesside know that is crunch time for steel and for the future of their region. They are joining with Unite in their droves to call on our politicians to act now.
“The government’s current plans for the industry are an abysmal failure that will result in the loss of countless jobs and the decimation of an industry vital to both the communities it supports and the UK’s economic success.
“Unite and the people of Teesside will not rest until politicians make the right choices. Steel production in the UK can have a bright future – it's time to save our steel.”
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said:
“Our commitment to the UK steel sector is clear from our support in South Wales, and we continue to work closely with industry to secure a sustainable and competitive future for the sector and its workers.
“We have offered a generous support package including more than £300 million of investment for British Steel to cut emissions, help safeguard jobs and unlock over £1 billion in stakeholder investment.”