Steel crisis: Cautious welcome for Government's Tata support
Black Country steelworkers have given a cautious welcome to Government moves to back any potential rescue of ailing Tata Steel in the UK.
The UK and Welsh governments have said they will provide a support package worth hundreds of millions of pounds to potential buyers of the business and
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The fate of the company has been uncertain since its Indian parent revealed it considering selling or closing its loss-making UK operations, which employ around 15,000 people. That includes around 800 in the Black Country: nearly 600 at the Wednesfield Steelpark and the rest at sites in Brierley Hill, Wednesbury and Walsall.
Chris Hale, Kidderminster-based regional secretary for the main steelworkers' union, Community, said: "There has been a cautious welcome from our members locally.
"It remains to be seen what will happen next, but from the union's point of view and of local workers, we consider it can only be a positive step forward.
"Our members are hopeful that a buyer will be found and welcome the Government's belated intervention."
He added: "Our members have been working on the Save Our Steel campaign for the last two or three years and it is a tribute to their hard work that the Government has now come to the table."
Tony Burke, assistant general secretary at Unite, added: "This is positive news for the Tata Steel workforce and starts to gives them, their families and communities the assurance that serious effort is being made to secure a new owner as the unions have demanded.
"In pledging to take a stake, government ministers have responded to the calls of the steel unions, politicians, industry and the public alike, who all recognise that we need a successful steel industry or we will cease to be a manufacturing powerhouse."
