Read this article in:
15 March, 2001The IMF-affiliated Iron and Steel Trades Confederation is campaigning hard to save steelworkers' jobs.
GREAT BRITAIN: Referring to the difficult situation at the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, which announced on February 1 a major restructuring programme including plans to cut over 6,000 jobs in the UK, Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confedation, says he still hopes to persuade the company to adopt the union's alternative strategy and not push ahead with the job cuts. Further talks between the ISTC and Corus will take place at the end of March.
Corus announced on March 15 that the group's operating loss for the 15 months to December 30 was £1.15 billion, which includes exceptional costs of over £1 billion. Leahy maintains that the underlying losses are comparatively small. "When you take from the losses the costs of plant closures and job losses that have not yet taken place, but are in these figures, you discover an overall operating loss of only £23 million over 12 months and £130 million over 15 months." He said the steel business was cyclical, and that very large profits were made in the good years.
Although the company has said it was not likely to change its mind on the job cuts, it has promised to listen to union suggestions.
Corus already laid off 4,500 workers in the UK in 2000.
Corus announced on March 15 that the group's operating loss for the 15 months to December 30 was £1.15 billion, which includes exceptional costs of over £1 billion. Leahy maintains that the underlying losses are comparatively small. "When you take from the losses the costs of plant closures and job losses that have not yet taken place, but are in these figures, you discover an overall operating loss of only £23 million over 12 months and £130 million over 15 months." He said the steel business was cyclical, and that very large profits were made in the good years.
Although the company has said it was not likely to change its mind on the job cuts, it has promised to listen to union suggestions.
Corus already laid off 4,500 workers in the UK in 2000.