JOBS BLOW

Ten workers at Clydebridge Steelworks face a bleak Christmas after finding they will be redundant from Friday.

It is believed the troubled Cambuslang plant only has around 30 shopfloor workers and the chopping of 10 is a high proportion of the staff there.

The news that the jobs will be lost as part of a total of 70 across Dalzell and Clydebridge shocked steelworkers’ union Community.

A statement from the union said: “The Scottish Government must do everything in its power to protect the integrity of these steelworks and the unique skill base that exists within them.

“It is these assets and skills that will attract a serious buyer and again enable first class steel to continue being produced in Scotland.

“Steelworkers are facing their toughest challenge in a generation – people are worried about their future and it’s made all the worse with Christmas coming up.

“It’s time for the Scottish Government to step up – warm words are all well and good but we need action to save this industry and the jobs within it.”

The latest meeting of the Scottish Steel Task Force also repeated the commitment to finding an alternative buyer for the Lanarkshire plants.

Chair of the task force, Business Minister Fergus Ewing said:“The Scottish Steel Task Force remains focused on finding an alternative operator for the Dalzell and Clydebridge plants and keeping as many jobs as possible.”

Margaret Ferrier MP had sympathy for those workers losing their livelihood.

“This is devastating news in the run up to Christmas” said the