Steel campaigners in Port Talbot will hold a highly visible and vocal ‘day of action’ on Thursday 2 November to raise public support for Unite’s plan to save the steel industry.
When: Thursday 2 November, 12:00 -13:30
Where: Afan Way Footbridge (at the Victoria Road Junction), Port Talbot, SA12 6NR.
For weeks, Unite organisers have been working in Port Talbot full time with members of the public and community groups as part of the Workers’ Plan for Steel campaign.
Over 50 businesses and community groups, have signed up to Unite’s campaign including: Afan United & Aberavon Green Stars, Port Talbot Gas Welfare Club, Afan Ales and San Portablo Streetwear and Fashion.
The campaign is engaging voters to pressure politicians to pledge support for measures that will safeguard existing steel employment and create thousands of new decent jobs.
In just a matter of weeks, a petition supporting the Workers’ Plan for Steel has attracted more than 16,000 signatures and succeeded in moving the Labour party to pledge ‘a bright future for UK steel’.
Unite, however, is clear that it will continue the campaign until the investment, job guarantees and public procurement rules needed to revitalise the industry and make it a world leader in green steel are secured.
Underpinning the campaign, Unite has set out a Workers’ Plan for Steel making key demands that if delivered would make Britain a world leader in steel production (see notes to editors for the four key demands).
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s Workers’ Plan for Steel campaign is already seeing results. But to ensure that Port Talbot’s steelworks becomes a global leader in green steel production, supporting decent well-paid jobs now and for generations to come, we need to keep our politicians’ feet to the fire. That’s why Unite is asking everyone in Port Talbot to demand politicians of all parties commit to the Workers’ Plan for Steel.”
Unite will soon be bringing forward costed proposals for a turnaround in the fortunes of UK steel and will be pressing all politicians to put those measures into effect.
