GMB Magazine GMB24 Centre Point Spring 2016 | Page 4

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OUR STEEL
GMB is rallying to save jobs in the
West Midlands steel industry

W

hile the closure of the plant
at Redcar has made the
national news, it’s not just the
North East that’s suffering
due to the decline in Britain’s steel industry.
Caparo had numerous plants across the
Region which went into administration in
October last year, as well as plants across
the country; some of which have now been
purchased by Liberty Steel. With thousands of
jobs going at SSI, Tata and now Caparo, GMB
is calling on the government to step in and
save Britain’s steel industry.
Russell Farrington, GMB organiser, said:
“The majority of the jobs here at Caparo
are highly skilled manufacturing jobs
based in Sandwell, making products for

companies like Honda, Ford, Rolls-Royce
and British Aerospace.
“GMB is obviously concerned about the
impact on members and has been working
with and supporting them at this difficult time.
“GMB arranged for members at the
troubled company’s site in Oldbury to meet
Adrian Bailey, Labour MP, to listen to their
concerns at this worrying time.”
A protective award has been lodged
on behalf of GMB members who were
made redundant with an hour’s notice, and
therefore not given the required notice of
redundancy or any form of consultation with
GMB. If the claim is successful, GMB members
could be awarded up to a maximum of
90 days’ pay. The steel industry has been
the cornerstone of the industrial life of the
West Midlands, and without action it will be
completely destroyed.
Adrian Bailey, MP for West Bromwich West
added: “It is a reflection of the wider problems

SUPPORT STEEL
GMB members taking
the fight to the government.

Jobs lost
so far…

Darlaston 122
Hartlepool 79
Oldbury 68
Dudley 64
West Bromwich 59
Tredegar 17
Wrexham 12
Cradley Heath 10
Other 21

Total

452

within the steel industry and the indifference
of the government to this situation.
“I am pressing the government to bring
forward a number of measures on business
rates, energy costs and steel dumping to
relieve the pressure on our industry.”

How GMB saved Christmas

Christmas would have been a miserable time for the workers made redundant at Caparo,
but GMB members pitched in and took up a collection so that we could at least send their
families a few treats for the holiday season.

04 CENTRE POINT – GMB Birmingham and West Midlands

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