Evening Gazette reported that Corus bosses and union leaders have agreed to establish a joint taskforce to ensure all alternatives to mothballing the Teesside Cast Products plant are fully examined.

Then news follows talks between the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee and members of the Teesside multi union committee with senior Corus chiefs including Mr Kirby Adams CEO of Corus.

Mr Geoff Waterfield chairman of the multi union committee on Teesside described the meeting as positive saying it had opened the door to further talks with the company. He added that "We're hoping to now hold further meetings in quick succession. We were also given assurances that the blast furnace at the site will be maintained and looked after so it can be brought back on line."

The taskforce will ensure all alternatives to mothballing are fully examined, this is due to take place at the end of January with the loss of 1,700 jobs. The group will continue appropriate preparations should mothballing be required and to oversee individual consultations with the workforce.

It will also work with local and national Government agencies to mitigate the potential loss of Teesside's core skills base and the effects on the local region and its economy.

Mr Jon Bolton MD of TCP said that the timescale for mothballing of the site remained the same, but added the meeting had been highly constructive. He added that the company remained open to any potential offers for TCP from interested parties.

(Sourced from Evening Gazette)