Infighting by unions is jeopardising attempts to save thousands of steel making jobs, the BBC has been told.
The UK’s largest steel plant at Port Talbot is facing 3,000 job cuts under plans being considered by owner Tata.
There is a deep rift with Community and GMB on one side and Unite on the other, which has withdrawn its support for a cross-union approach to talks.
There is a deep rift with Community and GMB on one side and Unite on the other, which has withdrawn its support for a cross-union approach to talks.
Last month, all unions were told by Tata, the owners of Port Talbot, that the company planned to close both blast furnaces at the south Wales site, and build a less energy emitting – and labour intensive – Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) over the next three years.
While plans to manufacture steel in a greener way were announced, the Indian company conceded the move would result in the loss of between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs.
Unions appeared united in the fight to prevent job losses following Tata’s announcement, but a major rift between them has now become bitter, with senior officials at Community and GMB – and even some members of Unite – describing Unite’s position as “reckless”.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, was singled out as having an “unrealistic” approach to the dispute, but a spokesperson for the union hit back saying the leader’s “record speaks for itself”.
Infighting by unions is jeopardising attempts to save thousands of steel making jobs, the BBC has been told.
There is a deep rift with Community and GMB on one side and Unite on the other, which has withdrawn its support for a cross-union approach to talks.
The UK’s largest steel plant at Port Talbot is facing 3,000 job cuts under plans being considered by owner Tata.
Last month, all unions were told by Tata, the owners of Port Talbot, that the company planned to close both blast furnaces at the south Wales site, and build a less energy emitting – and labour intensive – Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) over the next three years.
There is a deep rift with Community and GMB on one side and Unite on the other, which has withdrawn its support for a cross-union approach to talks.
There is a deep rift with Community and GMB on one side and Unite on the other, which has withdrawn its support for a cross-union approach to talks.
Last month, all unions were told by Tata, the owners of Port Talbot, that the company planned to close both blast furnaces at the south Wales site, and build a less energy emitting – and labour intensive – Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) over the next three years.
While plans to manufacture steel in a greener way were announced, the Indian company conceded the move would result in the loss of between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs.
Unions appeared united in the fight to prevent job losses following Tata’s announcement, but a major rift between them has now become bitter, with senior officials at Community and GMB – and even some members of Unite – describing Unite’s position as “reckless”.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, was singled out as having an “unrealistic” approach to the dispute, but a spokesperson for the union hit back saying the leader’s “record speaks for itself”.
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