2,000 UK jobs under threat at steelmaker Corus as 10-year deal collapses

Up to 2,000 UK jobs are at risk following the announcement by steelmaker Corus that its Teesside plant is facing closure.

Workers at the Teesside Cast Products plant were informed on Friday [8 May] after the plant’s four clients pulled out of a 10-year contract that they had signed together as a consortium.

In a statement, Corus chief executive Kirby Adams said he was extremely disappointed with the contract’s termination, and warned of a “significant number of redundancies” if the factory was mothballed.

“We regret the distress their action will cause our dedicated employees, who have worked steadfastly in the interests of the consortium,” Adams said.

“The company today [Friday 8 May] began discussions with employees and their representatives about what can be done to mitigate the impact of mothballing the plant on the 1,920 employees and what future action may be needed.”

Unions have expressed fury at the contract’s termination.

Michael Leahy, general secretary of the steelworkers’ union Community, said: “The consortium has made this disgraceful move, knowingly jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of workers who are the innocent victims of this.”

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Unite’s national officer Terry Pye said he would meet Corus management on Monday to see what could be done to save jobs.

Corus had alrady announced that it would slash 2,500 jobs in January at its plants in Teesside, Scunthorpe, Port Talbot and Rotherham.