15 December 2009
This week at the International Metal Workers Federation
executive meeting in Geneva, Workers Uniting is calling for support
of 1,700 Corus steelworkers from Teesside in the UK facing
redundancy. The world’s first global union also called for more
government intervention to support the steel industry in the UK,
United States, Canada and elsewhere where workers are facing job
losses because of globalisation.
Workers Uniting is a partnership between Unite the union from
the UK and Ireland and the United Steelworkers, from the United
States, Canada and the Caribbean.
On 4th December Corus announced it would mothball its Teesside
plant by the end of January 2010 with the loss of 1,700 skilled
jobs. The decision follows a decision by a consortium of four
companies taken in April 2009 to pull out of a 10-year agreement to
buy 78 percent of the plant’s production.
UK unions had made strenuous efforts to secure a long-term
future after the “failure” of the four buyers to fulfil obligations
under the contract, signed in 2004. Unite the union is urging the
UK government do everything possible to keep a steelmaking
infrastructure in Teesside and preserve the valuable skills of the
workforce for when the demand for steel increases.
Globalisation compounded by the world recession is causing
massive job cuts in the UK and USA and requires governments to
actively intervene to support industry, skills and jobs.
Terry Pye, Unite national officer said: "Globalisation
compounded by the world recession is acting against national
interests around the world. Government's need to actively intervene
to support industry, skills and jobs.
"The tragic news that 1,700 steelworkers face redundancy at
Corus in the UK is proof why the UK government should do everything
possible to keep a steelmaking infrastructure in Teesside and
preserve the valuable skills of the workforce. These jobs are not
being lost because the site was uncompetitive but because of a
world recession. The demand for steel will eventually return and
unless there is government action the UK won't even be able
to compete for the work. Germany is a fine example of a successful
economy that supports its industry, regardless of what the
'freemarketeers' say, it works."
Carol Landry, USW international vice president at large said:
“Steelworkers and other manufacturing workers in the United States,
Canada and the UK are facing job losses and uncertain futures
because of the failed philosophy that global capital must rule our
world. The hard-working employees at Corus and workers in our
countries have done nothing wrong. They are not to blame for our
economic mess, yet they and they families are the true victims of
the world recession.
"Domestic manufacturing strategies will go a long way to solve
our economic problems, protect quality jobs and secure a brighter
future for our world’s middle class. Our governments need to start
focusing on doing more to create and protect jobs.”
- ENDS -
For more information contact:
Saba Mozakka, Unite, 07768 693 953, saba.mozakka@unitetheunion.com
Connie Mabin, USW, 412-562-2616, cmabin@usw.org
- Notes to editors -
The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) represents the
collective interests of 25 million metalworkers from more than 200
unions in 100 countries. The IMF is a federation of national
metalworkers' unions - a ‘union of unions' at world level, and one
of the oldest Global Union Federations. The IMF aims to improve
metalworkers' wages, working and living conditions and defends the
rights of metalworkers at a global level.