Scunthorpe steelworkers balloted over 3% pay cut

Tata steelworkers in Scunthorpe have been telling Viking how they'll accept a 3% pay cut - if it means the future of the plant can be secured.

Ballot papers are being sent out to thousands of employees from today.

It'll ask workers if they support a new pension scheme which it's hoped can help ensure a £400-million pound rescue deal by Greybull Capital goes ahead.

It could cost some around a £100 a month.

But 25-year-old Matthew Cooke who works at the Scunthorpe plant told Viking that is a small price to pay if it means thousands of jobs can be saved:

"With the news in steel this week, we really need all the help we can get and I think Greybull are a viable buyer. They have shown a lot of interest and have helped to turn a lot of companies around so I think that we as workers are prepared to take that step to ease that takeover.

"We have had a turnaround plan ourselves and we are starting to make gains and it is looking like there is the potential that we could make profit so for the sake of 3%, if that is what it would take to get us over the line then we are more than willing to do that.

"Nobody would take a reduction ideally but I think people are hopeful now. The news in Wales has dented everybody's hopes but people are hopeful in Scunthorpe that we can get taken over by Greybull and that we will have a viable business."

Matthew Daly also works at the plant and told Viking he is also in support of a pay cut to help seal the deal for Greybull:

"We find ourselves in a very fortunate position in Scunthorpe in comparision to other areas of the UK at the minute as we actually have the option to vote for our future.

"Tata have made their intentions very clear that if we don't find a buyer then we will close and if we don't get a 'yes' vote then I think that Greybull will walk away and they'll be walking away from a town that no longer exists."

Workers are being balloted by trade unions over the next ten days.

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