Around 1,500 workers at Tata Steel’s sites in Port Talbot and Llanwern, Newport, will begin an “all-out indefinite strike” on July 8, the Unite union announced. This marks the first strike by UK steel workers in over 40 years.
The industrial action is a response to Tata Steel’s plans to close blast furnaces in South Wales, a move that threatens 2,800 jobs. The union warns the strike will “severely impact” the company’s UK operations.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, stated, “Tata’s workers are not just fighting for their jobs—they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales. Our members will not stand by while this immensely wealthy conglomerate tries to throw Port Talbot and Llanwern on the scrap heap so it can boost its operations abroad.”
The strike follows a vote by union members in April and a week of industrial action, including work-to-rule measures and an overtime ban. Graham emphasized that the strike will continue “until Tata halts its disastrous plans.”
Tata Steel has argued that its plans, including the construction of an electric arc furnace, are essential for transitioning to a “competitive and greener” steelmaking process. The company, which claims it is losing £1 million a day at Port Talbot, has labeled the situation as unsustainable. The decision, confirmed in January, was described by Tata Steel CEO T.V. Narendran as “pretty much” a done deal.
The ongoing strike represents a significant challenge to Tata Steel’s operations and reflects deep concerns over the future of the steel industry in South Wales.
