Corus cutting 2,000 jobs but Shotton workers escape axe

Jun 25 2009 By Francesca Elliott

STEEL giant Corus has announced it is cutting more than 2,000 jobs - but workers at Shotton appear to be unaffected.

Company officials blame the potential loss of 2,045 jobs on the worldwide economic downturn and the decline in steel demand in Europe and America.

Around 800 jobs are expected to go at the company's sites in Rotherham and Stocksbridge, with around 370 to go at Corus Tubes in the UK and the Netherlands and 375 jobs to go at plants in Teesside and Scotland.

Corus is also opening consultations on 500 white-collar jobs throughout the Corus Long Products division, the majority of which are in Scunthorpe.

Corus CEO Kirby Adams said: "We understand the difficulties these job losses are likely to cause our employees and their families. Any recovery in Europe appears to be some time off, so it is vital that we take this proportionate and responsible action now. We have to achieve long-term, sustainable competitiveness in a global and over-supplied steel market and are determined to do so by focusing on the quality of the products and services we offer our customers.

"The company will make every effort to ensure as many of the job losses as possible are voluntary, though the potential for compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out. The company will at the same time seek to retain critical skills. Redundancy packages and outplacement support services will be available to those leaving the company. There will be full consultations with employees and their representatives throughout the process."

Unite's national officer, John Rowse said: "We will be having urgent discussions with the company on this latest announcement but we cannot keep moving from crisis to crisis, its time for the government to step-up and act.

"Whilst the circumstances of this latest announcement is due to the impact of the global crisis, interim solutions have to be local to the UK. The situation for Corus and British manufacturing is too serious to stand idly by.

"Unless there is urgent support from the UK government, British manufacturing will come out of recession hamstrung and unable to compete in the world economy.

"Unite will be doing everything possible to support its members. Our priority is to minimise redundancies but unless there is action from the government to support British manufacturing we will continue to see skilled jobs wither on the vine."