Port jobs under shadow of steel works decision

May 30 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE operator of Teesport in Middlesbrough has announced plans to axe around 120 staff to cut costs if the nearby Redcar steel works shuts.

PD Ports has told its 600 workers that it is looking to reduce their number after a review of the business following news last month that the Teesside Cast Products plant is at risk of closure.

The company has said it has also been pushed to review its staffing levels because of a fall in trade at Teesside industries in the recession.

Efforts to sell the TCP plant, which has nearly 2,000 staff, or to stop a consortium of buyers from walking away from a contract to take 78% of its output for the next five years are continuing.

But PD Ports chief executive David Robinson said he wanted to move quickly to protect his company from the impact of the steel plant shutting if it cannot be saved.

Mr Robinson said: “It is a very regrettable step but we have begun a 90 day consultation with staff to advise them of the risk of redundancy of around 120 positions because of the Corus TCP situation and general reduced levels of business through the port driven mainly by the continued UK and global economic recession.

“There is still a distinct possibility that they might be able to save the steel plant from closure but we can’t sit around for months waiting for people to make a decision. We have to take action to protect our business.”