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Corus cutting 2,000 UK steel jobs Corus cutting 2,000 UK steel jobs
(30 minutes later)
Steelmaker Corus is cutting 2,000 more jobs at UK plants including Teesside, Scunthorpe and Rotherham.Steelmaker Corus is cutting 2,000 more jobs at UK plants including Teesside, Scunthorpe and Rotherham.
The company has yet to announce the job losses, but Labour MP Elliott Morley confirmed the news. Unions said the cuts were "devastating".The company has yet to announce the job losses, but Labour MP Elliott Morley confirmed the news. Unions said the cuts were "devastating".
About 500 white-collar jobs will go at Scunthorpe, Mr Morley said, while more than 400 jobs are thought to be at risk on Teesside and 800 in Rotherham.About 500 white-collar jobs will go at Scunthorpe, Mr Morley said, while more than 400 jobs are thought to be at risk on Teesside and 800 in Rotherham.
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.
Mr 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.Mr 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.
"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."
'Real concerns''Real concerns'
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."
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".