Members of a steelworkers’ union have voted to take industrial action in protest at planned job losses at Tata.
The company last month rejected a plan by unions to keep open a blast furnace at the Port Talbot steelworks, ending hopes of avoiding as many as 2,800 job losses.
Community said more than 85% of its members backed industrial action. Unions are campaigning against plans by Tata to change production at its site in Port Talbot, south Wales, to a greener method of steelmaking.
The Community national officer Alun Davies said: “Today our members delivered their verdict on Tata Steel’s job cuts plan, and they have voted to demand a better deal for the workforce.
“Community balloted more than 3,000 members across all Tata Steel UK production sites, and more than 85% have voted for industrial action.
“It should be noted this resounding mandate has been delivered in spite of the company’s bullying and unacceptable threats to slash redundancy payments.
“We will now be consulting our members on next steps, and we urge Tata to reconsider their position and get back around the table to head off a major industrial dispute.”
Members of Unite have also voted to strike, while the GMB is yet to announce the result of its ballot.
Indian-owned Tata Steel announced the closure of two of the UK’s four active blast furnaces in January, in a major blow to Port Talbot. The town and its economy are dominated by the steelworks.
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Tata has said it is investing in a new electric arc furnace at Port Talbot that will secure thousands of jobs.
