Scunthorpe MP Mr Nic Dakin will meet the business and enterprise minister Mr Mark Prisk in London on May 26th 2011, the same day detailed consultation between TATA and the trade unions is due to start.
The consultation period will last 90 days and both sides were said by Mr Dakin to be committed to keeping compulsory redundancies to the absolute minimum.
Mr Nic Dakin, who organized a meeting on the site, said that "I have a discussion booked with the minister for May 26th 2011 where I will be pushing for the Government to be proactive in supporting the local economy and the situation in general."
Brigg MP Mr Andrew Percy, who also attended the meeting, said that "TATA briefed us on the announcement in more detail. We talked at length about how those who lose their jobs will be supported and how the remaining work force will be skilled up to meet the changing demands. We discussed the next stage of the announcement and the establishment of task forces to support economic development and to support those who may lose their jobs. It was clear from the presentation that there have been problems at the plant for some years now, with about three quarters of the steel produced in 2009-10 making a loss."
He said that all MPs in the region had agreed to work closely with TATA and the task force to support workers through the process.
They say they have made clear they will make themselves available to put pressure on wherever necessary to help ease the way forward.
Mr Percy said that "I was especially keen that we discuss in more detail what support will be made available to those who do end up losing their jobs. We need to ensure that there are plans in place to audit the skills of these workers to ensure that proper re training can be made available. It is going to be a very difficult few months, but we have all made clear that we want to be closely involved in the process and we stand ready to do whatever is needed to help protect those affected."
The task force set up by the council to help the 1,200 workers whose jobs are at risk started operations on May 24th 2011.
(Sourced from www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk)
