Unions set to talk Corus and SSI details

Sep 7 2010 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

UNIONS are hoping to meet with bosses at Corus and Thai-based SSI within the next two weeks to discuss the proposed takeover of the Teesside Cast Products site.

Thailand’s biggest steel producer has announced plans to take over TCP after signing a memorandum of understanding with Corus just over a week ago.

It may take several months for the deal to be completed.

Meanwhile an inspection of the site’s blast furnace - which was mothballed in February - has been carried out with the view to igniting it should the deal go ahead.

Unions say the furnace, which will take four to six months to get back up and running, is in “good condition”.

Geoff Waterfield, chairman of the multi-union works committee, said both local and national unions were hoping to sit down with both Corus and SSI “as soon as possible” to discuss details of the deal - and the impact on the 700 workers still currently employed at the site.

A takeover of TCP is also set to create a “significant” number of new jobs.

“There is still a lot of work to do before this is a done deal,” he said. “We need to sit down with all parties as soon as possible - hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

“People have questions - particularly about their pensions - and we need to get answers for them as soon as possible.”