Tata Steel are to axe 400 jobs at their Port Talbot plant as part of major restructure

AN international steelmaker today announced it is to slash 400 jobs at one of its British plants as part of a major restructure.

tata steel, port talbot, plant, south wales, jobs, axed, slash, slashed, careers, british, steelmakerThe job cuts comes under proposals to "improve competitiveness" [PA]

Indian Tata Steel will axe 10 per cent of the workforce at its Port Talbot 'UK Strip Products' site in South Wales under proposals to "improve competitiveness".

The move will allow the business to compete in a "lower market demand era" across Europe, the company said in a statement.

Chief executive Karl Koehler said: "We have invested more than £250 million over the last two years in state-of-the-art steelmaking technology in the Strip Products business.

"These investments have created a stronger, more efficient and more reliable platform from which we can meet the needs of our customers, with an improved range and quality of products and services.

"But steel demand and prices are likely to be under pressure for some years.

"These proposed changes then are vital if we are to build a competitive future for our Strip Products business in the UK."

He added the firm will "engage fully with employees" and "do everything we can to support our employees through this unsettling time".

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "This is understandably a difficult time for the workforce at Tata Steel in South Wales as the company tries to weather challenging market conditions.

"I have been in close contact with the chief executive at Tata Steel and understand they will offer voluntary redundancy packages and cross match people to other parts of the business to try and avoid compulsory job losses.

 Vince Cable said that Tata Steel are committed to the UK [PA]

This is understandably a difficult time for the workforce at Tata Steel in South Wales as the company tries to weather challenging market conditions

Vince Cable

"The company is committed to the UK and is making significant new investments to ensure it is able to meet new challenges and opportunities."

Roy Rickhuss, chairman of the UK trade unions' steel committee, said he was very concerned and the union would do "all we can to support those affected by the announcement".

He added; "We recognise the company has been dealing with a long-term downturn in European steel markets for more than five years.

"However we have also expressed our own concerns about possible under-manning within strip products and in Port Talbot in particular.

"Therefore, it is vital that this is not just an exercise to just reduce costs by cutting jobs but takes a considered and objective view as to the numbers required to run and maintain the plant to make steel safely and productively."

In a joint statement Aberavon Labour MP Hywel Francis MP and David Rees AM said: "We were assured that the usual process of consultation will be undertaken and key issues of long term sustainability of the plant and safety will be paramount.

"We urge government at local, Welsh and UK level to work with Tata and the unions to achieve this."

Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black described the announcement sad news for the workers.

"The Welsh government needs to act quickly so those workers who are facing redundancy will know what options are available to them."

Tata Steel employs around 7,000 people across Wales with 3,800 people working at Port Talbot.

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