Did you work at Tata Steel?

Home » News & Knowledge » Did you work at Tata Steel?

Port Talbot’s Tata Steelworks shut down this week, resulting in 2,800 jobs being put at risk.

Earlier this year it was announced that Tata was making job cuts after plans were released to go ahead with a greener form of steelmaking.

Work at Tata Steel

Tata Steel, announced plans to produce steel more environmentally friendly, using electric arc furnaces that need fewer workers. Tata is said to be making the changes, with the government’s backing to cut emissions and stem financial losses.

This week, Union bosses described the decision to close Furnace 4 as an ‘incredibly sad and poignant day for the British steel industry’. The closure of the furnace comes following a steady decline in the industry since the 1970s which has seen heavy job losses for decades.

Owen Midwinter from Port Talbot told the BBC he had already finished his last shift in the blast furnace control room.

“Every day there are rumours, it plays on your mind a bit.

“If the worst comes to the worst and I do get made redundant, I’d want to stay around here,” he added.

The Port Talbot plant is the largest steelworks in the UK and currently employs 4,000 of the company’s 8,000-strong UK workforce. The move would see 75 per cent of workers lose their jobs.

On Friday, staff were sent an email, which Sky News obtained a copy of, which announced the closure.

Tata UK’s chief executive Rajesh Nair said:

“Port Talbot has long been associated with the iron and steel industry and the closure of our heavy end operations will be a hugely significant and emotional day for employees – past and present – contractor partners, and the local community.

‘While it will of course be a difficult day, it is a necessary step as we transition to a green steel future and secure the legacy of steelmaking at Port Talbot for future generations.”

Meanwhile, former Prime Rishi Sunak, earlier this year said:

“I know first of all that it will be a worrying time for everyone affected, and because it’s a commercially sensitive matter, and people appreciate there’s a limit to what I can say.

“But what I can tell you is we are absolutely committed to steelmaking in the UK and that’s why the Government provided half a billion pounds to support Tata.

“The alternative, by the way, was it, the entire plant, will be closed and all 8,000 jobs will be lost, but the Government worked with the company.

“The company is investing more money in order to safeguard thousands of jobs, and that’s something that the UK Government has done.”

The decision to close the blast furnaces has been criticised by unions and local MPs after the company rejected alternative plans.

Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, home of the Port Talbot steelworks urged Tata and the government to reconsider the plans.

He said: “[The plans] will cause the job losses of 3,000 hard-working men and women, each of whom have dedicated their lives to an industry which underpins Britain’s automotive industry, railways, defence sector, consumer goods, construction, wind turbines and so much more.”

Tata Steelworkers – Accident At Work

If you have suffered an injury while working at Tata Steel, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Whether you have developed an industrial illness, such as asbestosis, asthma, cancers or silicosis, or suffered a physical injury you may be entitled to compensation.

Even if you have been made redundant, or no longer work for Tata Steel, you may be entitled to claim. Oakwood Solicitors Ltd specialises in workplace injury claims and has over 20 years of experience in running and pursuing these cases.

We will ensure that we update you at every stage of the case and you will have a dedicated handler from the beginning. It can be very stressful after an injury and our team can assist you by breaking down the legal jargon during the process and listening to you.

When you instruct us, you can expect a friendly, down-to-earth approach together with extensive knowledge of the field which will be used to fight tenaciously with the insurers to achieve the maximum level of compensation possible for you.

We are interested in speaking to any workers who have suffered an injury while working at Tata Steel.

Port Talbot’s Tata Steelworks shut down this week, resulting in 2,800 jobs being put at risk.

Tata Steelworkers – Accident At Work

Further reading

WHAT TO DO NEXT