All the union news that's fit to blog...
Unite has slated Tata’s shock announcement today that it will be closing the coking ovens at Port Talbot steel works with near immediate effect. Although the coking ovens were known to be in a state of disrepair, Tata had not indicated to trade unions during recent consultations that they were at risk of imminent closure. […]
The post Port Talbot coking ovens to close appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite mobilised one of its biggest steel demos ever in Port Talbot on Saturday (February 17). Unite general secretary Sharon Graham gave an impassioned speech at the rally, which you can watch in full in the video below: If you’ve missed our earlier coverage of the Port Talbot demo, you can read a full news […]
The post ‘Last stand for UK steel’ appeared first on Unite Live.
It’s only Monday (February 19) and it’s already been a busy week for Unite. Below is a selection of today’s top news stories: Balfour Beatty workers angry over profitable firm’s below inflation pay offer Around 150 M25 maintenance workers employed by Balfour Beatty are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite said today. The […]
The post Today’s top news stories: M25 workers in strike vote appeared first on Unite Live.
The Port Talbot community joined Unite steelworkers, officers and activists for the union’s biggest demonstration to date on Saturday (February 17) in the fight to save steel jobs. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham joined the protest and gave an impassioned speech in a rallying cry for the thousands of jobs now at risk at Tata’s […]
The post Port Talbot fights for steel appeared first on Unite Live.
“We can fight. And yes, we can win!” These were the rousing words of Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham yesterday, February 17, as she addressed the hundreds-strong Port Talbot steel community who’d come to listen, as she spoke out on the closure of the blast furnaces.
The post ‘Hand of history is on our shoulders’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will be among the speakers at the trade union steel rally taking place in Port Talbot this Saturday (February 17). The rally will be followed by a march around the town centre involving trade unions and members of local businesses and organisations. The march and rally will allow local people […]
The post Rally for steel appeared first on Unite Live.
As Unite ramps up its steel campaign, UniteLive spoke to Port Talbot steelworker Dale, who highlighted what’s at stake for his community if Tata Steel cuts thousands of jobs. You can watch our short film below and find out more about Unite’s steel campaign here. Film by Jake Roberts
The post ‘Our community sticks together’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Last week, Unite hosted a number of events in steel towns across the UK as the union ramped up its steel campaign. In the short video below, we hear from steel reps and a former steelworker in Scunthorpe about why we have to keep fighting for steel. Unite’s steel campaign has never been more urgent. […]
The post ‘Our fight to save steel’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite steel campaign gained further momentum on Thursday (February 1) after it hosted a series of events in steel towns across the UK. In Scunthorpe, residents joined Unite steel reps and activists erecting ‘UK Steel Jobs Not for Sale’ signs in front gardens on various streets throughout the town. It was a proud display of […]
The post Scunthorpe fights for steel appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite ramped up its steel campaign on Thursday (February 1) when it hosted a national day of action in British steel towns, including Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and Sheffield, among others. ‘UK Steel Jobs Not for Sale’ signs were erected in front gardens in streets throughout the towns to demonstrate the united stand steel communities have […]
The post ‘Our future depends on steel’ appeared first on Unite Live.
A community gathered together in solidarity to say no to job cuts at Tata Steel in Port Talbot today (February 1) placing hundreds of signs of support saying “UK Steel Jobs Not For Sale” in gardens and outside houses across the town. The estate agent-style boards spread across the Westlands Estate, Windsor Village and Village […]
The post Our community is not for sale! appeared first on Unite Live.
Steelworkers, residents, local councillors and activists were out in full force in Port Talbot for Unite’s latest steel campaign event on Thursday (February 1) to send a loud and clear message that UK steel jobs were ‘not for sale’. More than 200 ‘Not for Sale’ signs were erected in front gardens in a number of […]
The post ‘Not for Sale’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite staged a demonstration outside Parliament’s Portcullis House to coincide with Tata Steel bosses giving evidence to a select committee hearing on the steel industry on Wednesday (January 31). The packed protest brought together Unite steel reps, activists and supporters who sent a loud and clear message that they will not stand for needless job […]
The post ‘We must keep up the fight’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite has released a new film featuring the voices of its steelworker members in Port Talbot. You can watch the full film below: Film by Paul Gonella & Matt Ankers
The post ‘For future generations’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite members from Port Talbot steelworks descended on Parliament earlier this week (January 23) ahead of an opposition day debate on protecting the UK’s steel industry. The debate was called following an announcement last week that Tata Steel is planning to close its blast furnaces with the potential loss of more than 2,800 jobs. Below […]
The post Steelworkers head to Parliament appeared first on Unite Live.
Tata Steel on Friday (January 19) confirmed plans to close the Port Talbot steelworks’ two blast furnaces, with the proposed loss of more than 2,500 direct jobs. The announcement comes despite the government providing £500m in funding to the company to make the transition to green steel by building electric arc furnaces, which make steel […]
The post ‘Dark day for steel’ appeared first on Unite Live.
A quiet November Saturday afternoon in Sheffield. The steel-grey sky hangs heavy over the Sheffield United FC club house on Bramall Lane, home to the famed local team, the ‘Blades’.
A line forms outside the building. Men, women, children, jostle for position. The crowd is excited, the mood is good. Nothing unusual here you may think. But the Blades aren’t playing at home today. The crowd has not come for football. So why are they here?
The post Connecting communities through steel appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite steel reps met in Port Talbot on Friday (November 17) and unanimously agreed a Workers’ Plan for Steel for all steel plants including Port Talbot. Commenting on the meeting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said that Unite’s plan “is about growth in steel jobs that will transform the UK into the global green steel […]
The post Plan to save UK steel appeared first on Unite Live.
Port Talbot sports teams and steel workers rallied at the beachfront on Saturday (November 11) to demand political action to save the industry. The rally comes as a petition calling on politicians to sign up to Unite’s Workers’ Plan for Steel reached over 21,000 signatures. Local sports teams in attendance will included Afan Lido FC, […]
The post ‘Bringing people together’ appeared first on Unite Live.
A plan for steel, binding employment rights and an end to energy rip-offs should form the centrepiece of next week’s King’s Speech, Unite has said. The call comes as ministers finalise their plans – that will be laid out on Tuesday 7 November – for what will be the final legislative programme before the next […]
The post A King’s Speech for the people appeared first on Unite Live.