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Over 100 jobs saved at Corus

Up to 120 jobs have been saved for steelworkers in the North East as the proposed mothballing of steel plant Corus is postponed.

In December, Corus announced that its Redcar plant would close at the end of this month, with the loss of 1,700 jobs.

However, last night it emerged that an 11th-hour deal has been struck to protect jobs in the South Bank coke works, part of the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) complex at Redcar, for three years.

The company also agreed to postpone the partial mothballing of the plant until the end of February. However the remaining 1,600 staff still face redundancy in two weeks.

Union bosses brokered a deal with the company to supply coke to other steel plants in the region and across the country.

Geoff Waterfield, the chairman of the multi-union works committee at the plant, said: “This is great news for the families of the people who work in the coke works. “The deal should keep them in work for at least three years and shows the plant has a future.

“Hopefully, the postponement of the mothballing will give us a chance to find a buyer for the plant and save even more jobs.”

Unite regional officer Bob Bolam said: “It is fantastic news. Hopefully, this is just the start of more good news to come. We will continue working hard to save all the jobs at the plant.”

A statement issued following the first meeting of the Joint Management and Trade Union Task Force yesterday outlined the agreement.

It said: “In the interests of maintaining a continuation of meaningful talks with a view to securing a positive future for TCP, Corus agreed to consider a trade union proposal to extend TCP’s operating programme and postpone the partial mothballing to the end of February.

“This extension of the operating period would not affect timescales associated with the ongoing HR process.

“Also at the meeting, Corus confirmed its intention to continue operating the South Bank Coke Ovens, following the improvement in the market conditions for coke.

“As a result of this decision about 120 additional jobs will be retained.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .