British Steel have ‘warmed’ to a multi-union to keep two blast furnaces open in Scunthorpe and save thousands of jobs – but say the Government must move on carbon costs.
Unions GMB, Community and Unite met with bosses from British Steel owner Jingye this week and presented their plan to maintain a two blast furnace operation throughout the transition to low carbon steelmaking.
The company acknowledged the alternative plan, prepared by the independent steel consultants Syndex on our behalf, is a serious and credible piece of work and accepted a number of the recommendations and findings.
However the future of the blast furnaces remains the most important issue to resolve.
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Officer, said:
“The multi-union plan means Scunthorpe having both blast furnaces open as the site transitions to low carbon steelmaking.
“We believe that keeping the blast furnaces running is vital as it will reduce the risks of the transition and protect thousands of jobs.
"Jingye warmed to the proposal and agreed there were strong arguments for maintaining the blast furnaces.
“But the major barrier is the additional carbon costs to be paid under Government policy regulations.
“For our plan to be viable – we need Ministers to provide relief from these policy costs, just as other European countries have done.
“Thousands of jobs and primary steelmaking cannot be lost because carbon costs rule out British Steel pursing a sensible and just transition to low carbon steelmaking.”
