Speaking at the Port Talbot steel rally, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Friends, make no mistake we stand here today in this proud town of Port Talbot - a town drenched in workers' history - making the very last stand for UK steel.

“The hand of history is truly on our shoulders. And friends, how have we arrived at this point? Because of a programme of job cuts and unrelenting industrial vandalism.

“For years and years, politicians and profiteers have delivered cut after cut to UK steel.

“In 2023: Newport Liberty Steel and Scunthorpe British Steel – nearly 1,000 steel jobs gone.

“In 2020: Newport, Tata - nearly 400 jobs gone.

“In 2015 and 2016: Rotherham, Scunthorpe and Port Talbot Tata, nearly 3,000 jobs gone.

“In 2015: Redcar, Teesside SSI - over 2,000 steel jobs gone.

“And on and on it went. Job cut after job cut. The long hard march of years of decline.

“Friends, together our politicians have sat by and watched our steel industry be decimated. They have handed our steel to overseas corporations, undermined our economy and our national security.

“They have let communities wither on the vine. They have failed us all.

“Well, we say here together - no more! The time for begging is over. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for us to fight with everything we have. Fight for our communities and fight for UK steel.

“Friends, Tata is a giant conglomerate, which has reserves of £1.6 billion, and has paid to shareholders £1.4 billion since 2019. Their cries of poverty do not stand up.

“The government presides over an economy worth £2.5 trillion and squandered over £4billion on dodgy PPE we never used. Their cries of poverty do not stand up.

“Make no mistake, the money is there to protect our steel industry!

“Friends, decline is not inevitable. It is a choice. Another future for steel is possible - it is already happening in other countries.

“For the Tata Dutch workers, where Tata has chosen both to invest and build an electric arc and not run down the site.

“For the German and French workers, whose governments have chosen to invest and not run down their sites.

“Friends, these are sites where blast furnaces remain open while electric arcs are being built. Where DRI capacity is being brought in. Where jobs are being protected.

“Why are workers in Britain expected to swallow lie after lie and be treated like dirt?

“We will not allow it. Friends, we will expose their collective lies.

“They say that it is unrealistic to protect jobs. That it is unrealistic for capacity to be saved. That mass steel making has no future here.

“Lies, Lies, Lies. Shame on you. Shame on you.

“Friends, if what they are saying is true, how is it happening in Germany, where they can make more steel on one site, than we do in the whole of Britain?

“If Germany can have investment for that to happen, why can’t we even save the jobs we have in Britain? If the German government can protect German workers - why can’t our government protect us?

“Friends, we can only win the future if we chose to fight now. Because be in no doubt, no politician will just give more. No global corporation will change their plans free of charge.

“The truth is, they won’t give us anything if we don’t rise up and fight together.

“Friends, we don’t have to accept what we are being told. We don’t have to pretend that begging is negotiating. And we don’t have to accept more cuts as a given.

“We can fight. And yes, we can win!

“Friends - there should be a bright future for UK steel. The steel market is there. A tenfold increase in demand is predicted. Politicians keep talking about the need for growth – there is your growth.

“Invest in UK Steel. Invest in the future. For Port Talbot, Llanwern and all the others throughout Britain.

“A future where these towns are once again global capitals of steel making. Where instead of cuts to jobs, there are new jobs made. Where instead of reducing our steelmaking capacity, we build production to match demand. That future is possible.

“Already we have shown that we can make moves. Moving Labour to commit three billion for UK steel in the next parliament. And their statement to Tata - don't do anything before an election that can’t be reversed. Commitment to DRI investment.

“It's a good start - but they must do more. Tinkering around the edges is not enough. Labour is the party for workers. Our party.

“Of course, we want a Labour government. But we want one that is going to make real change! Stick up for workers – be by our side.

“Labour – this is the time to decide whose side you are on!

“Friends, let no one tell you that there is not a future worth fighting for – that it’s too hard or too late – that it is fanciful. That this town is not worth the fight. That centuries of steel and iron making are not worth the fight.

“We have to make a stand for capacity and jobs. It’s simple: If we fight, no one can say that we will get all we want. But if we don’t fight then we will watch thousands of steel jobs fall.

“Unite's ballot for industrial action starts on 1 March. And I know that other unions are beginning to prepare for a ballot. Vote yes in the ballot. Vote yes for a future for you and your families. Vote yes for a future for your community. For those that came before and all those that will follow you.

“And friends when you give us that vote, I promise you we will back you. Unite members will be backed by our £20 million strike fund. And we will work night and day to save jobs.

“Friends, let’s stand together, let’s fight together, let’s win together. Victory to our steel workers! I’ll see you on the picket line – solidarity!”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065. 

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.