Tata Steel: Unite union decides to suspend planned strike

Tata Steel said on Tuesday it had received written confirmation from the Unite union that the company was suspending its current actions (other than a strike) as well as the planned strike due to begin on Monday 8 July with immediate effect. “As a result, and now that we can be confident that we are ensuring adequate resourcing of activities to ensure safe operations, we will cease preparations for the early shutdown of blast furnace 4 and the wider heavy furnace at Port Talbot planned for this week. We welcome the fact that we have not had to go further down this path,” a Tata Steel spokesperson said in a statement. “The resumption of discussions with the UK Steel Committee will build on the position reached at the last meeting on 22 May. The focus will be on the future investment and objectives for the company rather than on renegotiating our existing plan for the heavy furnace closure or enhanced employment support terms,” ​​the spokesperson added.

The company said it had begun planning to dismantle blast furnace 5 and expected to produce the last iron by the end of this week.