Tagged with Redcar

On Tory indifference to steel and to human tragedy, and their hatred of solidarity

tata steel jobs copyIt was like the crashing of dominoes, except the toppling was done by livelihoods, supply chains, ways of life. First, SSI in Redcar announced it was going belly up. And after toing and froing with the government, once it was clear state aid wasn’t forthcoming it was as if Britain’s steel bosses huddled together and decided the time was right for job losses.

2,200 are going in Redcar. Tata are shedding 1,200 in Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire, and a further 1,800 are in danger. They blame energy costs and the flooding of European markets by dirt cheap Chinese steel. That’s the government’s narrative as well, ruling out action on grounds it’s against EU rules. It’s convenient to have someone else to blame. Continue reading →

Northern Powerhouse – The gap between reality and rhetoric

REDCAR NORTHERN POWWERCUTThere is no better illustration of the gap between the rhetoric and reality than the Government’s failure to support our steel industry.

The UK steel industry is in crisis. While George Osborne was in Shanghai this week selling the UK energy sector to the Chinese Government, steel production on Teesside could come to an end after 160 years. One of the main reasons cited for the steel crisis is the action of China dumping excess steel onto international markets. Eurofer – the organisation that represents European steel producers, stated

Chinese import pressure and unfair trade practices are certainly the root causes underlying the pressures that steel plants, such as Redcar, are facing. China now sells its excess steel to the EU at prices that do not even cover the costs for raw materials and material transformation.”

Continue reading →