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Unions fear for hundreds of Tata Steel works contractors
RESTRUCTURING: The Tata Steel works in Scunthorpe. Picture: Carl GacUNION officials say they fear cutbacks at the Tata Steel works could lead to hundreds of contractors losing their jobs.
The Scunthorpe site’s two main unions, Community and Unite, will raise concerns with the company over reports more than 400 contractor posts could be at risk in addition to the 1,200 Tata losses announced last week.
Tata chiefs intend to meet the bosses of around 1,500 contractors on the site to discuss the implications. And fears have also been raised 50 jobs could be at risk at Harsco Infrastructure, which has just been awarded a scaffolding contract at the site.
Bernard McAulay, the national construction officer for Unite, who will be visiting the town tomorrow, said: “The loss of core employees at Tata in Scunthorpe and the closure and mothballing of some of the areas is bound to have a knock-on impact on our construction members on the site.”
Mick Fell, chairman of the works multi- union committee, said: “We are due to start our detailed consultation with Tata management on Thursday over the job losses, and the future of the contractors on the site will be among the issues raised.”
One contractor has already started talks over cutbacks. The cuts involve American- owned access specialists Harsco Infrastructure, which has just won a contract to provide a scaffolding service.
A spokesman said: “Following a standard review process which was recently undertaken, Harsco are in discussions with employees and unions regarding the future operating structure.
“This process is required to bring our operating capacity in line with current production levels and requirements at the plant.”
One scaffolder, who asked not to be named, said: “We have been told 50 jobs are at risk. We are all running scared at present of losing our jobs.”
A spokesman for the Scunthorpe Tata Steel works said: “We have been talking with Harsco, our new supplier of scaffolding services for our Scunthorpe site, to ensure we have the appropriate level of service. These discussions have been ongoing since the new contract was agreed last year.
“As a general comment about the turnaround plan we announced on May 20, we recognise contractors and suppliers are essential to our operation and we will be working with them over the coming weeks to review the implications of that plan.”
RESTRUCTURING: The Tata Steel works in Scunthorpe. Picture: Carl GacUNION officials say they fear cutbacks at the Tata Steel works could lead to hundreds of contractors losing their jobs.
The Scunthorpe site’s two main unions, Community and Unite, will raise concerns with the company over reports more than 400 contractor posts could be at risk in addition to the 1,200 Tata losses announced last week.
Tata chiefs intend to meet the bosses of around 1,500 contractors on the site to discuss the implications. And fears have also been raised 50 jobs could be at risk at Harsco Infrastructure, which has just been awarded a scaffolding contract at the site.
Bernard McAulay, the national construction officer for Unite, who will be visiting the town tomorrow, said: “The loss of core employees at Tata in Scunthorpe and the closure and mothballing of some of the areas is bound to have a knock-on impact on our construction members on the site.”
Mick Fell, chairman of the works multi- union committee, said: “We are due to start our detailed consultation with Tata management on Thursday over the job losses, and the future of the contractors on the site will be among the issues raised.”
One contractor has already started talks over cutbacks. The cuts involve American- owned access specialists Harsco Infrastructure, which has just won a contract to provide a scaffolding service.
A spokesman said: “Following a standard review process which was recently undertaken, Harsco are in discussions with employees and unions regarding the future operating structure.
“This process is required to bring our operating capacity in line with current production levels and requirements at the plant.”
One scaffolder, who asked not to be named, said: “We have been told 50 jobs are at risk. We are all running scared at present of losing our jobs.”
A spokesman for the Scunthorpe Tata Steel works said: “We have been talking with Harsco, our new supplier of scaffolding services for our Scunthorpe site, to ensure we have the appropriate level of service. These discussions have been ongoing since the new contract was agreed last year.
“As a general comment about the turnaround plan we announced on May 20, we recognise contractors and suppliers are essential to our operation and we will be working with them over the coming weeks to review the implications of that plan.”
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