£80m package to help steel workers

With mounting pressure the government has announced a financial package of “up to £80 million” to support local businesses and workers.

In a statement released on Monday SSI blamed the poor steel trading conditions across the globe and the severe deterioration in steel prices for the situation the plant finds itself in.

“The government says, “we can’t give you the full package because of state aid rules”.

Following the announcement that the Redcar steel plant was to close, a local paper has reported that an as-yet-unnamed company from the North East is making an eleventh hour bid to prevent its collapse.

“The Government must now spearhead efforts to support the industry and the supply chain”.

“I will try to do all I can as an advocate for workers and their families – and for the future of their community – at this hard time”. “We will want the government and the liquidator to involve all interested parties who may wish to acquire the site and speak to them to save as much of the site as possible”.

She said: “We have done all we can to support the company, but we are now in a position where we are obliged to take legal recovery action”.

“The heart of a community in a region with high unemployment is being ripped out”.

“The Government needs to be supporting the manufacturing sector, it has a critical role in our United Kingdom economy and in our regional economies as well”. The industrial marvel that is Redcar blast furnace cannot be allowed to collapse because the government is turning its back.

Roy Rickhuss from the Community union, which represents the majority of the SSI workers and contractors, said: ‘Steelmaking on Teesside must have a future and our fight to save our steel will continue.

Neil posted the video on his Facebook page, saying: “We all know what David Cameron has done, but watch what he hasn’t done”.

The British government has acknowledged that the steel sector is in crisis, and pledged to talk to China, which produces half the world’s steel, about concerns it is flooding the market with products priced below fair value.

“Whilst it is right the Government will provide a few support for steelworkers and their families, their refusal to assist with mothballing the assets threatens to end the possibility of steelmaking in the future”.

Former Business Secretary Vince Cable said the failure of of the steelworks “calls into question” George Osborne’s plans for a Northern Powerhouse.

On a visit to the plant, which has been hit by a sharp slump in steel prices, Mr Javid said the funding would ensure that “no one will be left behind” in the north eastern town.