STEEL workers facing redundancy could strike if Corus does not talk openly about alternatives to mothballing its Teesside plant, union bosses said today.

The giant announced last month that 1,700 jobs would go at Teesside Cast Products in Redcar, in two weeks time.

But earlier this week, bosses said they would consider postponing the closure, giving all parties more time to find a buyer.

The Community Union said the lack of honest talk from Tata Corus, the Indian-owned firm, could spark industrial action.

Its general secretary Michael Leahy said: "Tata Corus has got to be clear about their intentions and should act in the best interests of their workforce.

"Community Union will fight for a future for steel-making in Teesside because closure would be industrial sabotage and environmental vandalism.

"It seems that Tata Corus does not want to find a solution and one short term decision should not decide the future of a whole community.

"Our focus is on Tata Corus - this is an industrial problem, if Tata Corus dont start talking honestly about alternatives we might seek an industrial solution.

"We need more time to look at all the options - if government money is part of the solution - we want to go jointly as Tata Corus and the unions to make a united case.

"Mothballing such a huge plant would be a costly affair for Corus, and labour intensive.

Should union members decide to strike, that could make safely mothballing it more difficult for Corus."

Mr Leahy gave evidence to the North-East Region Parliamentary Select Committee, which was not attended by Corus CEO Kirby Adams.

The select committee chairman Dari Taylor MP invited him to make a future date.

She said: "There was not one banker that refused to meet the relevant select committee during this recession; we really hope that Kirby Adams is not refusing to present evidence to the committee."