Jobs set for the axe at Corus steel works

Jul 1 2009 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

STEELMAKER Corus is set to slash the workforce at the Clydebridge steelworks in Cambuslang by almost a third.

The firm is cutting almost 2000 more jobs at their UK plants, which also includes Dalziel in Motherwell, with the firm looking to cut 37 of their 104 local jobs, leaving just 67 on the workforce.

Corus blamed the job losses on a further deterioration in steel demand in the US and Europe, with the demand for steel falling as the global recession hits the industry.

Workers at the plant are represented by Community, the steelworkers’ union, and Unite, who represent other trades such as electricians.

Peter Phillips, chair of the joint union of Clydebridge and Dalziel, said: “We had a meeting with management at Dalziel on Monday, and locally we will be losing 37 jobs at Clydebridge. We currently have a workforce of 104.

“Clydebridge is part of a plate finishing process. He do heat treament, armoured plating, etc.

“We’re capable of doing 2300 tonnes a week, and current manning is based on 900 tonnes. We’re nowhere near that at present, doing something like 3-400 tonnes a week.

“Up to the beginning of this year, we were doing 23000 tonnes, but the downturn in the economy has hit us hard. We were working 21 shifts seven days a week, 24 hours a day, but now we’re at 15 shifts maximum, Monday to Friday.”