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Corus cutting 2,000 UK steel jobs | Corus cutting 2,000 UK steel jobs |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Steelmaker Corus is cutting almost 2,000 more jobs at UK plants including Teesside, Scunthorpe and Rotherham. | Steelmaker Corus is cutting almost 2,000 more jobs at UK plants including Teesside, Scunthorpe and Rotherham. |
Corus blamed the job losses on a "further deterioration" in steel demand in the US and Europe. Unions said the cuts were "devastating". | Corus blamed the job losses on a "further deterioration" in steel demand in the US and Europe. Unions said the cuts were "devastating". |
About 500 white-collar jobs could go at Scunthorpe, while 375 jobs are at risk in Teesside and in Scotland. Up to 800 may go in Rotherham and Stocksbridge. | About 500 white-collar jobs could go at Scunthorpe, while 375 jobs are at risk in Teesside and in Scotland. Up to 800 may go in Rotherham and Stocksbridge. |
Corus has seen demand for steel fall as the global recession hits the industry. | Corus has seen demand for steel fall as the global recession hits the industry. |
"Any recovery in Europe appears to be some time off, so it is vital that we take this proportionate and responsible action now," Corus chief Kirby Adams said. | "Any recovery in Europe appears to be some time off, so it is vital that we take this proportionate and responsible action now," Corus chief Kirby Adams said. |
"We have to achieve long-term, sustainable competitiveness in a global and over-supplied steel market." | "We have to achieve long-term, sustainable competitiveness in a global and over-supplied steel market." |
'Disappointed' | 'Disappointed' |
Labour MP Elliott Morley told the BBC he was "disappointed" at the level of cuts and added he had told the firm that job cuts should be a last resort. | Labour MP Elliott Morley told the BBC he was "disappointed" at the level of cuts and added he had told the firm that job cuts should be a last resort. |
WHERE ARE THE JOBS BEING CUT? Scunthorpe - 500 Stocksbridge - 379Brinsworth - 45Rotherham - 377Teesside Beam Mill - 150Hartlepool - 156Skinningrove - 113Dalzell and Clydebridge - 96Corby - 88Bolton - 9Darlington - 9The Netherlands - 123 href="/2/hi/business/8078914.stm">See where jobs are being lost and created on the BBC UK jobs tracker | |
"The priority is to see if all the job losses are necessary and whether they can be voluntary rather then compulsory." | "The priority is to see if all the job losses are necessary and whether they can be voluntary rather then compulsory." |
The new UK job cuts would come on top of about 2,500 cut announced in January, says steelmakers' union Community. | The new UK job cuts would come on top of about 2,500 cut announced in January, says steelmakers' union Community. |
Corus, a subsidiary of India's Tata Steel, says that it is Europe's second largest steel producer with annual revenues of about £12bn and crude steel production of over 20 million tonnes, primarily in the UK and the Netherlands. | Corus, a subsidiary of India's Tata Steel, says that it is Europe's second largest steel producer with annual revenues of about £12bn and crude steel production of over 20 million tonnes, primarily in the UK and the Netherlands. |
The Community union called on the government to intervene saying there was now a battle for the survival of British steelmaking. | The Community union called on the government to intervene saying there was now a battle for the survival of British steelmaking. |
"It's devastating news for our members and their families in steel communities right across the UK," union general secretary Michael Leahy said. | "It's devastating news for our members and their families in steel communities right across the UK," union general secretary Michael Leahy said. |
"We have real concerns for the integrity of the British steel industry - we fear its further erosion could fundamentally undermine UK manufacturing." | "We have real concerns for the integrity of the British steel industry - we fear its further erosion could fundamentally undermine UK manufacturing." |
Cost cutting | Cost cutting |
Peter Hogg, a commercial director at Corus, said outside the Rotherham plant that the firm itself was surprised by the extent of the global recession. | Peter Hogg, a commercial director at Corus, said outside the Rotherham plant that the firm itself was surprised by the extent of the global recession. |
"It's clear to us that full recovery will be years away," he said, adding he thought the downturn would be "much longer and much deeper than anticipated". | "It's clear to us that full recovery will be years away," he said, adding he thought the downturn would be "much longer and much deeper than anticipated". |
In January, the firm announced a series of cost-cutting measures, which including mothballing a steel mill in South Wales as well as 3,500 job cuts worldwide, including the 2,500 in the UK. | In January, the firm announced a series of cost-cutting measures, which including mothballing a steel mill in South Wales as well as 3,500 job cuts worldwide, including the 2,500 in the UK. |
Mr Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC that the job cuts were a "sad day for the town". | Mr Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC that the job cuts were a "sad day for the town". |
"It's important to try and minimise any job losses and, to be fair to Corus, they've been trying to do that," he said. | "It's important to try and minimise any job losses and, to be fair to Corus, they've been trying to do that," he said. |
"They've learned that if and when the upturn comes, you will struggle without skilled workers. | "They've learned that if and when the upturn comes, you will struggle without skilled workers. |
"There has been much more focus on trying to preserve jobs in this recession, and I welcome that. | "There has been much more focus on trying to preserve jobs in this recession, and I welcome that. |
He called for any redundancies to be made on a voluntary basis where possible." | He called for any redundancies to be made on a voluntary basis where possible." |
Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said the cuts were "grim news for the hardworking employees of Corus". | Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said the cuts were "grim news for the hardworking employees of Corus". |
Do you work for Corus? Are you affected by the job cuts? Send us your comments. | Do you work for Corus? Are you affected by the job cuts? Send us your comments. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |