TSSA welcomes government action to keep furnaces running at Scunthorpe

Rail union TSSA has welcomed the announcement from the government that supplies of raw materials have been secured to keep the blast furnaces operating at the British Steel plant at Scunthorpe. 

However, the union is calling for the plant to be brought into public ownership as soon as possible, so that steel – as a core industry central to the railways and across many other sectors - is not at the mercy of private or overseas interests.  

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust said: “The actions of the Labour government in recent days – first stepping in to take control of the business at Scunthorpe and now making sure raw materials will keep the furnaces operating – are welcome. 

“Steel is a core industry and vital to Britain’s railways, not least on tracks up and down the network. British Steel is a crucial national assent and must not be at the mercy of private or overseas interests.  

"That is why Ministers should now be clear that bringing our steel capacity into public ownership is the only viable way forward. This should be done at pace. Our union will continue to press that point in the days and weeks ahead.” 

ENDS 

Notes – TSSA is an independent trade union for the transport and travel industries. We have thousands of members right across the UK and Ireland, working for the railways and associated companies, as well as ferries, bus services and the travel trade.