SynopsisUnion members and steelworkers in the UK are raising concerns about the decline of the steel industry. They are urging the government to take action, including using more UK steel in public contracts, investing £1 billion annually for a 12-year transition to green steel, and implementing energy price caps to make steel production more competitive. The union emphasizes that the steel industry is on the verge of disappearing, which could have a profound impact on the towns built around steelworks, reports Planet Radio,ArticleIn a poignant gathering outside Scunthorpe Steel Works, Unite union members and steelworkers have united in a plea to the government to reverse the alarming decline of the UK's steel industry. The demands put forth by the union are multi-faceted, with a primary focus on promoting the use of UK steel in public contracts and injecting £1 billion annually over 12 years to facilitate a transition toward green steel production.One of the crucial factors highlighted is the need for energy price caps to reduce production costs, making UK steel more competitive on the global market. The union members emphasize that without these measures, the steel industry in the UK is perilously close to complete disappearance.Martin Foster, a steelworker at the Scunthorpe site and a representative of Unite the union, expressed the dire situation: "We've been through one restructure after another, one round of job cuts after another - it seems never-ending. At the moment, we have a steel industry which is absolutely on the precipice of disappearing entirely."The symbiotic relationship between the steel industry and the towns it has shaped is also emphasized. Foster notes, "This town's grown up around the steel - if you Google earth Scunthorpe and the steelworks - the steelworks is almost the same size as the town. The town's thrived as a result of the steel industry as the steel industry has shrunk, so has the town."Despite the challenges, the union members assert that the UK has a reputation for producing high-quality steel, and they lament the fact that many significant projects in the country do not utilize UK-made steel. They call for government action to secure the future of this critical industry.The government has acknowledged discussions about potential investments in the industry and has expressed commitment to its survival.In conclusion, the warnings from union members and steelworkers underscore the critical state of the UK steel industry. Urgent action is needed to prevent its decline, which would have far-reaching consequences for both the industry itself and the communities that rely on it.
SynopsisUnion members and steelworkers in the UK are raising concerns about the decline of the steel industry. They are urging the government to take action, including using more UK steel in public contracts, investing £1 billion annually for a 12-year transition to green steel, and implementing energy price caps to make steel production more competitive. The union emphasizes that the steel industry is on the verge of disappearing, which could have a profound impact on the towns built around steelworks, reports Planet Radio,ArticleIn a poignant gathering outside Scunthorpe Steel Works, Unite union members and steelworkers have united in a plea to the government to reverse the alarming decline of the UK's steel industry. The demands put forth by the union are multi-faceted, with a primary focus on promoting the use of UK steel in public contracts and injecting £1 billion annually over 12 years to facilitate a transition toward green steel production.One of the crucial factors highlighted is the need for energy price caps to reduce production costs, making UK steel more competitive on the global market. The union members emphasize that without these measures, the steel industry in the UK is perilously close to complete disappearance.Martin Foster, a steelworker at the Scunthorpe site and a representative of Unite the union, expressed the dire situation: "We've been through one restructure after another, one round of job cuts after another - it seems never-ending. At the moment, we have a steel industry which is absolutely on the precipice of disappearing entirely."The symbiotic relationship between the steel industry and the towns it has shaped is also emphasized. Foster notes, "This town's grown up around the steel - if you Google earth Scunthorpe and the steelworks - the steelworks is almost the same size as the town. The town's thrived as a result of the steel industry as the steel industry has shrunk, so has the town."Despite the challenges, the union members assert that the UK has a reputation for producing high-quality steel, and they lament the fact that many significant projects in the country do not utilize UK-made steel. They call for government action to secure the future of this critical industry.The government has acknowledged discussions about potential investments in the industry and has expressed commitment to its survival.In conclusion, the warnings from union members and steelworkers underscore the critical state of the UK steel industry. Urgent action is needed to prevent its decline, which would have far-reaching consequences for both the industry itself and the communities that rely on it.