Guaranteed council job interview for steelworkers in Scunthorpe who are set to lose jobs
260 jobs are to go at British Steel
All British Steel workers who lose their job because of the planned closure of the coke ovens is guaranteed a job interview with the council.
Cllr Rob Waltham, North Lincolnshire Council’s leader, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that any such steelworker who applies for a council vacancy will get at least an interview. He also hinted at expectation that other private employers in the town strongly consider matching this offer.
On Wednesday, February 22, British Steel’s owners Jingye Group announced that up to 260 jobs will go as it chooses to close the steelworks coke ovens. In reaction, Cllr Waltham said: “I think it’s a really sad time for the families of the people whose jobs are at risk.
“We’ve been here before, we’ve had these challenging times before. From the council’s perspective, we are going to do everything we can to support those families, those individuals, that are hearing this news today.”
The council already announced on Wednesday morning the creation of a task force to help those affected find alternative jobs. This will be in partnership with local steel representatives, MPs Holly Mumby-Croft and Andrew Percy, and other agencies.
Cllr Waltham expanded on what the council will do in response to questions from the LDRS. “From our perspective we will set up a taskforce as soon as we know the extent of any job losses. We will work really closely across all the public sector.
“Most importantly, we will, I’m pleased to confirm today, be offering an interview to anybody who’s losing their job, at the council. So they will be able to access any vacancies that we have on offer.
“I’m sure that other employers will be up for doing the same, so it’s a significant contribution. Our thoughts are with families and individuals who are at risk today. But suffice to say, the council will step up and do everything it can to support getting those skills and talented people back into the labour market as quickly as we can.”
In steel production, coking coal is converted to coke in ovens heated to about 1,200 degrees Celsius. This is then used to supply heat and fuel the chemical reaction in the blast furnaces. Higher energy costs, inflation and the need to improve environmental performance for the job cuts were blamed for the job cuts to be made. British Steel’s bills for energy and carbon increased by £190 million last year, it said.
“To build a secure future for British Steel, and protect skilled and well-paid careers for thousands of employees and many more in our supply chain, we are – like many other businesses – proposing to streamline our business,” British Steel chief executive Xifeng Han said as part of an extensive statement.
“We’re disappointed at having to make such proposals but are confident they will support a successful transformation.”
Talks between the government and British Steel’s owners Jingye Group about a possible £300m government rescue package of support to encourage long-term investment in the steelworks future have been going on for months. Jingye have described the talks so far as “unsatisfactory”.
“It’s a negotiation and businesses that are receiving hundreds of millions of pounds have to be responsive to what the government is asking for,” said Cllr Waltham when asked about this. He added that the government has committed millions in the past towards the Scunthorpe steelworks and delivered on that.