Steel strike threat halted

Feb 26 2010 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

STEEL unions, which last night had been ready to issue a co-ordinated statement on industrial action in support of Teesside Cast Products, have taken the pressure off Corus CEO Kirby Adams by calling a two-week truce.

TCP multi-union chairman Geoff Waterfield said the three unions - Community, GMB and Unite - which have been involved in talks to save TCP were now “seriously concerned” about how his decisions were affecting not just Teesside, but the whole of the UK steel industry.

“We agreed that we want to give Kirby Adams an opportunity to reflect on what he’s done,” said Mr Waterfield. “After that we need to talk to our members.

“His (Mr Adams’) decision making is flawed - certainly as far as TCP is concerned. We want to talk. We don’t want any knee jerk reactions - we know better than most on Teesside how that affects people’s lives.”