The BBC reports 1200 job losses expected at Tata Steel plants across the UK. Two Lanarkshire plants under threat are the Dalzell plate rolling works in Motherwell, which has been operating since 1872, and Clydebridge in Cambuslang, which opened in 1887.
John Park, assistant general secretary of trade union Community, said:
“The significance of this is that it could be the end of steel production in Scotland. Tata Steel have to be persuaded to mothball the site rather than close it and the Scottish Government has to have a role in keeping the infrastructure secure and supporting short-time work until a future can be secured.”
The EU is supposed to swing into action with anti-dumping measures where “material injury has been suffered by the Community industry concerned” and “there is a causal link between the dumping and injury found”. That would mean hefty import duties to level the playingfield. Both SNP and Labour are avid supporters of the EU so what have they been doing all this time to ensure our steel industry is properly protected against Chinese dumping? The Tories meanwhile seem happy to sacrifice our steel jobs and skills in efforts to suck up to Chinese financiers.
This devatation of one of our foundation industries is happening on Labour’s watch as chief Opposition to a lunatic Tory government. God help us!