WATCH: Protestors show support for Caparo workers
'Save our steel' - that was the message from protestors who pitched up outside a Black Country Caparo site where hundreds of jobs are at risk.
Around 20 members of the GMB union waved flags and placards outside of the assembly factories on Rood End Road, Oldbury, to show support for the 1,700 Black Country employees who face being out of work after the firm was put into administration this week.
They were joined briefly by staff just about to begin their afternoon shift yesterday. West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey also showed his support at the demonstration and has vowed to put pressure on Parliament to introduce measures which will safeguard the British steel injury.
Stuart Richards, senior organiser for GMB, said: "We have got people who have worked here for 20 to 30 years on this site.
"They have built their life around this company. They have mortgages, they have children, they have dependence. They all depend on earning a living. People are extremely worried. This is not just about the loss of their job but part of their life."
There are three parts of Caparo Industries based at Rood End Road.
The firm makes automotive parts for companies such as Honda, Ford, Rolls Royce and British Aerospace.
In total 16 of its 20 associated companies have been place into administration and are now being handled by PwC - formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers.
There has been interest from some businesses looking to take over parts of the Caparo group but Mr Richards said it was 'unrealistic' to think all of the companies could be saved.
"The major objective here at this site is to encourage suppliers to continue supplying the company and to help administrators look for potential buyers," he added.
"The other long-term objective is to support the British steel industry."
One of the factors which is now being scrutinised is Caparo's lucrative venture to develop a road legal super car in 2007. Some have already pointed the finger at the project's heavy costs.
"I know that is one of the things the administrators are looking at," said Mr Richards.
"They are being tight-lipped about that but if there has been mismanagement with the project then that really needs to be looked at."
The announcement about Caparo's troubles on Monday were shortly followed by the news Tata Steel were to axe 1,200 jobs in Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire. The Sandwell company's woes are seen as part of a national crisis as well as its own internal issues.
The cut-price supply of steel from China has been touted as one of the major reasons for British firms struggling to compete.
Mr Richards added: "We have published an independent report this week that says imported steel from China is mislabelled in such a way it does not attract the right amount of tax.
"It is something the Government needs to look at.
"We are in danger of losing this site and it will impact on more than 1,500 Black Country workers. But you have got all of the supply chain as well. The automotive industry is all fairly local and this puts the workers at all of those companies in jeopardy."
The West Midlands Economic Forum estimated that the Caparo crisis would have major implications throughout the Black Country with an estimated 34,000 jobs at 1,700 companies in the area dependent on the supply of steel.
Labour MP Adrian Bailey said: "This is a grim day for employees in the Black Country. It is a reflection of the wider problems within the steel industry and the indifference of the government to a situation which has been obvious for a long time.
"I am pressing the Government to bring forward a number of measures on business rates, energy costs and steel dumping to release pressure on our industry."
On Monday Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to press Chinese President Xi Jinping on the so-called 'steel-dumping' issue during his four-day stay in Britain.
During a Commons debate he said: "Of course, we're doing everything we can in Europe to help our steel industry.
"That is why we voted in favour of dumping tariffs against the Chinese and we'll do everything we can to help our steel industry, including looking at how we help on high energy usage and the clearances that we need with that.
"Will we raise it with the Chinese? Of course, we'll raise all these issue."
