pd ports/corus news, page-2

Government urged to save steel jobs
36 minutes ago

Unions and employers from the steel industry are due to urge the Government to do more to prevent thousands of jobs being lost and to help secure steel-making in the UK.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson will be pressed to consider financial aid to help keep workers in their jobs as well as other measures to boost the competitiveness of steel firms.

The meeting in London comes against the backdrop of last week's bombshell threat to thousands of jobs at the Corus steel plant on Teesside.

The Community union, which represents steel workers, said people's minds should be focused on the threat to thousands of jobs.

General secretary Michael Leahy said: "This summit has been arranged to talk about the future of the UK steel industry. The urgency to find workable solutions is paramount.

"We may only have days left to ensure that 3,000 steel jobs and thousands more in the community on Teesside do not disappear.

"The summit will provide an opportunity for the steel industry, MPs and Government to consider all possible action that can be taken to secure the future of steel-making for Teesside and the UK."

Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.