THERE was renewed hope for North-East steelworkers last night with the news that 120 jobs had been saved and the proposed mothballing of a steel plant had been postponed.
In December, Corus announced that its Redcar plant would close at the end of this month, with the loss of 1,700 jobs.
However, last night it emerged that an 11th-hour deal has been struck to protect jobs in the South Bank coke works, part of the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) complex at Redcar, for three years.
The company also agreed to postpone the partial mothballing of the plant until the end of February.
However, the remaining 1,600 staff still face redundancy in two weeks.
Union bosses brokered a deal with the company to supply coke to other steel plants in the region and across the country.
Last night’s news was welcomed by officials in the region.
Geoff Waterfield, the chairman of the multi-union works committee at the plant, said: “This is great news for the families of the people who work in the coke works.
“The deal should keep them in work for at least three years and shows the plant has a future.
“Hopefully, the postponement of the mothballing will give us a chance to find a buyer for the plant and save even more jobs.”
Unite regional officer Bob Bolam said: “It is fantastic news. Hopefully, this is just the start of more good news to come. We will continue working hard to save all the jobs at the plant.”
A statement issued following the first meeting of the Joint Management and Trade Union Task Force yesterday outlined the agreement.
It said: “In the interests of maintaining a continuation of meaningful talks with a view to securing a positive future for TCP, Corus agreed to consider a trade union proposal to extend TCP’s operating programme and postpone the partial mothballing to the end of February.
“This extension of the operating period would not affect timescales associated with the ongoing HR process.
“Also at the meeting, Corus confirmed its intention to continue operating the South Bank Coke Ovens, following the improvement in the market conditions for coke. As a result of this decision about 120 additional jobs will be retained.”
The news comes only days before a committee of MPs is due to hear evidence about the devastating impact the closure of the Corus steel plant will have on the region.
Union and council leaders are due to outline their fears to the North-East Select Committee at Redcar Racecourse on Friday.
The loss of steelworkers’ jobs will be top of the agenda, while committee members will also look at what is being put in place to help people who lose their jobs and what can be done to prevent the plant’s permanent closure.
Among the people giving evidence will be Mr Waterfield, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader George Dunning and Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon.
Mr Waterfield said: “Hopefully, the Government will be able to ask Tata chiefs pertinent questions and get them to open up more about what they are planning to do to find a solution.”
Coun Dunning said: “I am hoping that they will be going back and recommending that we can keep Teesside Cast Products (TCP) producing steel. As we have said all along, the loss of steel production will have a devastating effect on the region.
“We will have a mountain to climb to replace these jobs because there are just not that many jobs available at the moment. I do not want to say it will be impossible, but it will be extremely difficult.
“We are anxiously waiting for January 29, but we remain hopeful that a buyer can be found for the plant before the last steel leaves the furnaces.”
There will be another session on Tuesday in the House of Commons, when TCP managing director Jon Bolton, Redcar MP Vera Baird and the Minister for the North-East, Nick Brown, will be among those giving evidence.
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