Final days of production at Tata Steel as workers say Port Talbot will be "devastated"
Production at the UK's biggest steel plant is expected to finish late tomorrow.
Last updated 29th Sep 2024
Work at Tata Steel's second steel blast furnace in Port Talbot is into its penultimate day.
Production is expected to finish late tomorrow ahead of the switch to a more environmentally friendly electric alternative.
The move to greener steel means the loss of around 2,800 jobs.
The UK government has pledged 500 million pounds of support for the town and those facing redundancy.
We've been speaking to one steelworker losing his job.
He's told us he's frustrated with the government's response.
He said: "I just can't understand how any government - Conservative or Labour - would give money to an overseas company to invest in its own company assets when there is no benefit to the UK strategically or economically."
He also said as the move towards a switch in production looms closer - the feeling at the site is awful.
"I think generally feeling across the site - management excluded - is that people are now so annoyed by how poorly they've been treated by Tata during this period - most people just want to leave the company.
"Whilst unions and the company are trying to save face ultimately the voluntary redundancy offer is so poor people are choosing to leave Tata for work elsewhere without accepting redundancy payments.
He also touched on how the loss of almost 3,000 jobs will impact the local community. He said: "Undoubtedly, this is devastating for Port Talbot.
"Thousands of people depend on the steel industry to provide for their families.
"Where large companies have to make large scale redundancies - the offers are usually far more enhanced which allows people the chance to cure their finances and their families during a period of retraining or even accepting alternative employment - but in this case it's just not here."