{"id":11301,"date":"2017-01-30T17:04:15","date_gmt":"2017-01-30T17:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=11301"},"modified":"2017-01-31T14:40:02","modified_gmt":"2017-01-31T14:40:02","slug":"tata-jobs-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=11301","title":{"rendered":"Tata jobs \u00e2\u20ac\u201c at a price"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tata steelworkers are set to vote in a ballot that opened today (January 30) over the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s proposals to rescue the Port Talbot steelworks, commit to investment and save thousands of jobs across its UK sites.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tata Steel has committed to \u00c2\u01411bn in investment to modernise its operations over the next 10 years, and has pledged to keep its two-blast furnace operation at Port Talbot steelworks for the next five years. Under the plan, no compulsory redundancies will be made also for the next five years, in effect preserving 8,000 jobs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The steel company, which earlier this year put up its UK operations for sale, is now instead eyeing a merger with German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp if the proposals are accepted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rescue plan hinges on members accepting changes to their pensions, which will entail closing the final salary pension scheme to future accrual and replacing it with a defined contribution scheme with employer contributions of up to 10 per cent \u00e2\u20ac\u201c above the UK defined contribution scheme average of 4.5 per cent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The steel unions were instrumental in reshaping the proposal to gain an additional pledge from Tata, which could see members older than 50 who are planning on retiring early receive a one-off payment of up to \u00c2\u014110,000, depending when they plan to retire and how long they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been contributing to their pension scheme.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The steel unions, including Unite, are now recommending that their members vote in favour of the proposals after meeting with over 100 steel reps on Thursday, January 26 and getting feedback from them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe do not make this recommendation lightly,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 the steel unions said in a joint statement<\/a> to members last week. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bNobody is saying that the proposal on the table is without issues. We fully understand the concerns of members, particularly around the BSPS [British Steel Pension Scheme].<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut as we have said before what you are voting on is the best outcome that could be achieved through negotiation,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 the statement noted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is our collective view, supported by our independent experts, that this is the only credible and viable way to secure the future.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Never would have wished for this\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

While the steel unions acknowledged that steel workers are in a \u00e2\u20ac\u015bsituation that we would never have wished for\u00e2\u20ac\u0165, they highlighted too that \u00e2\u20ac\u015bit is also the only way to protect the benefits you have already accrued and to provide a chance to prevent the BSPS free-falling into the Pension Protection Fund.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe should also make it clear that a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098no\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 vote will not stop the BSPS from closing to future accrual,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 the unions pointed out. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat is our view based on what every pension expert, lawyer, consultant and BSPS Trustee has told us.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unite national officer for steel Tony Brady told UNITElive that he completely understood that the workforce may be feeling demoralised and distrustful of Tata Steel. But he urged them to carefully consider the proposals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIn our view, it is the best pathway to keeping the industry alive,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe are in a far better position than we were in last year and Tata\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s commitment to a decade of substantial investment gives us hope that steel will have a long and viable future in the UK.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The steel trade unions have also secured a provisional binding agreement from Tata underpinning their commitments, but this is dependent on the workforce accepting the proposals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brady added that Unite will stand by its members all the way and highlighted what else the union was doing to support the workforce.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnite has been instrumental in, for example, successfully lobbying the Welsh government for further investment and support,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he explained.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Last month, the Welsh government committed \u00c2\u01418m in support<\/a>, to be spent on reducing energy costs and cutting carbon emissions at the Port Talbot steelworks, which would help future-proof the steel industry in Wales. The Welsh government also committed to an additional \u00c2\u01414m which would go towards skills and training.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe urge the Westminster government to mirror the Welsh Assembly by committing to investment in the steel industry,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Brady added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Very frustrated\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Unite Port Talbot steel rep Mark \u00e2\u20ac\u015bPasty\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Turner explained that the Tata workforce in Port Talbot was very frustrated at the decision they now have to make.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bTo be honest, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lots of anger over changes to the pension scheme, and rightly so,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut I think there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a certain level of resignation among many in the workforce that this is the only deal that will ensure a future for the steel industry in Port Talbot.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThere\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s significant distrust in Tata Steel at the moment,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Turner added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He explained that steel unions were negotiating for the very best possible deal up until the eleventh hour, and he was confident that this was the best deal they were able to secure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAt this point, the alternative doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t bear thinking about,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Turner noted it is vital that each and every Tata steelworker uses their vote.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt would be very disappointing if there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a low turnout on a vote that in many ways determines the UK steel industry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s future,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWhile we urge members to accept the proposals, whichever way you feel about it, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important above all to cast your ballot.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ballot is set to close on Wednesday, February 15 at noon. Find out more about Tata Steel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s proposals here.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tata steelworkers are set to vote in a ballot that opened today (January 30) over the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s proposals to rescue the Port Talbot steelworks, commit to investment and save thousands of jobs across its UK sites.   Tata Steel has committed to \u00c2\u01411bn in investment to modernise its operations over the next 10 years, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[270,269],"wps_subtitle":"Vote on pensions begins","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11301"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11301"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11302,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11301\/revisions\/11302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}