Steelworkers to attend Westminster debate about industy post-Brexit
Community Union will meet with key figures at Westminster today amid uncertainty in government and with Tata Steel.
Steelworkers from across the UK will meet with key industry figures in Westminster today as part of a debate into the future of the industry post-Brexit.
Community’s General Secretary, Roy Rickhuss, is calling for steelworkers’ jobs and Britain’s steelmaking capacity to be protected.
In London, a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament will examine how the recent ‘Brexit’ vote will impact upon the UK steel industry.
MPs from steel towns across the country will put the case to government ministers that in this time of uncertainty the industry is supported.
Workers from steelworks across the UK will travel to London to attend the debate and to speak directly with politicians about the concerns of those on the front line of the industry.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Roy Rickhuss said:
“It’s good that steel MPs are continuing to challenge the government and hold it to account for the commitments that ministers have made to steelworkers and their families.
“Community’s reps are attending the debate today to hear first-hand from MPs and ministers about what impact the Brexit vote might have on their industry.
“Given the ongoing uncertainty for the industry following the referendum result, now is the time for ministers to re-affirm the action that they will take to secure the future of steel making in the UK.”
At the Dutch steel plant in Ijmuiden, Roy Rickhuss will meet with leaders of other European steel unions to discuss the recent announcement from Tata that they intend to work with Thyssenkrupp to secure a solution for their European businesses.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Roy Rickhuss said:
“Steelworkers across Europe are worried for their future and Community and our sister unions in the industry want to do the best by our members. That’s why I wanted to reach out to union representatives in Europe so that we can have an understanding of each other’s worries and concerns.
“Maintaining open communication between workers in both Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp Steel throughout this process is important, so we are kicking off that dialogue today.”