CALLS for a high-powered task force dealing with the aftermath of the major job losses in the Teesside steel industry have been backed by the leader of Middlesbrough Borough Council.
Councillor Ken Walker pledged the "wholehearted commitment" of the authority in working with other agencies to help workers facing redundancy.
More than 500 staff are to lose their jobs following the announcement by Corus of major cutbacks in its Teesside operation.
Coun Walker said: "I fully support the calls for unity, locally, regionally and nationally, in dealing with both the immediate impact on individual workers and their families, and in developing a long-term strategy to protect the future of our local steel plants. I can give a wholehearted commitment on behalf of the council that we will cooperate in every way possible with our local authority colleagues, the Tees Valley Development Company, the regional development agency, One NorthEast, and other partners such as the Tees Valley TEC and government departments.
"There can be no hiding from the fact that this is a severe blow, but we have shown on many occasions in the past we can fight back. I have no doubt we can do it again."
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