Tata Steel Dutch workers strike work on job cuts

Ore preparation workers at Tata Steel’s Dutch operations went on strike on Wednesday demanding protection from job cuts.

“It is the first time in 28 years that people at Tata Steel Ijmuiden are on strike. That shows how much the people of Tata Steel Netherlands are concerned,” spokesman Roel Berghuis of Dutch labour union FNV, said.

According to FNV, this meant that raw material were no longer available for the blast furnaces, pellet and sinter factory.

Tata Steel said: “In the current environment, Tata Steel Europe has been working with all stakeholders including the unions in both Netherlands and the UK to meet the challenges.” The company said recognises the uncertainty in the minds of the employees and respects their right to demonstrate.

The workers are striking at a time when the steel industry is facing headwinds with major customers shut as a result of lockdown measures.

Tata Steel said: “Industrial action will put further pressure on the company’s results. It is important all stakeholders make every effort to keep the company in good health.”

The union wants, among other things, the guarantee that there will be no redundancies.

Furthermore, t he staff requires that agreements in the Employment Pact be extended till 2026 and that no parts of Tata Steel Netherlands are sold.

The union also said that the strike was also about the company’s strategic future. FNV said that the employees absolutely do not want Tata Steel Netherlands and Tata Steel UK to be combined. Tata Steel Europe has two steelmaking hubs : Ijmuiden in the Netherlands, and Port Talbot, Wales.

According to the union, it was inevitable that the work would be laid down, after the management of Tata Steel Netherlands did not respond to the demands of the employees.

However, Tata Steel said: “We have invited the FNV for a conversation and, while it has not responded, our door is still open and the company looks forward to an active engagement in the coming days.”