Steel job cuts ‘devastating’ communities

NEARLY 12,000 British Steel jobs have been lost since the turn of the millennium, devastating communities, according to an analysis of Government data by the GMB union.

It shows that employee numbers shrank by 59.6 per cent from 2001 to 2021 as the company struggled, first under Indian industrial titan Tata, then family-owned investment group Greybull, and now China’s Jingye.

Last week British Steel announced it plans to close its coke ovens in Scunthorpe with the loss of 300 jobs, with up to 900 also at risk from its workforce of around 4,000.

Data shows in 2001 British Steel employed 19,540 people in 10 areas: Redcar and Cleveland, Newport, Sheffield, Rotherham, Blaenau Gwent, Birmingham, Kirklees, Hinckley and Bosworth, and North Lanarkshire. Since then the total number employed in those areas has shrunk to 7,885. Redcar and Cleveland has been hit hardest, suffering more than 3,000 job losses. Newport has lost 2,000 over the years, while Sheffield and Rotherham have both lost over 1,350.

British Steel and Jingye held talks with the Government about securing a £300million support package. The manufacturer wants taxpayers’ cash to help it decarbonise and survive the hit from higher energy prices and the weak economy. It is “reluctantly having to consider cost cutting”.

GMB national officer Charlotte Brumpton-childs said: “Workers, their families and communities will again be asked to pay the price.we urge British Steel and the Government to continue talks. They must decide if they want a UK future in steel or if it is to die.”