"The steel crisis isn’t over" says union as hundreds protest at Sheffield steelworkers rally

HUNDREDS of steelworkers and supporters from across the UK converged on Sheffield on Saturday at a rally to protest cuts to help the British steel industry.

The Trade Union Congress organised the rally to urge the government to cut the amount of cheap steel flooding the market from China, causing prices to drop and jobs to be cut.

900 jobs have been cut at Tata Steel’s operations in Scunthorpe, with a further 300 in Scotland and even more across Teeside.

Commenting ahead of the “Save Our Steel” rally in Sheffield, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The crisis in British steel isn’t over. One in six steelworkers face losing their jobs. Britain desperately needs a long-term industrial plan, but Ministers have refused to commit to one.

“The closure of factories will devastate surrounding communities, and causes jobs losses throughout the supply chain. The Chancellor’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ has to be more than a slogan for a party conference: the North needs real support for job-rich industries with strategic economic value.

“British steelworkers contribute over £2 billion to our balance of trade. Every steelworker generates over £90,000 of added value. These aren’t jobs we can simply watch fade away.

“The US has taken strong steps to protect its steel industry, and so can we. I have written to the Prime Minister proposing international action to stop China dumping cheap steel on the global market.

“All we see from the government is inaction at home, and inaction abroad. In the short run we need action on Chinese steel dumping. In the long run we need a serious industrial strategy.”