Tata unveils £240m project
Tata Steel will start work today on a £240 million project to improve the steel works at Port Talbot, including a re-fit of a blast furnace.
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Tata Steel may delay relighting a blast furnace
First Minister with Tata "every step of the way"
At the launch of Tata Steel's £240 million Port Talbot project, Carwyn Jones said his Government would continue to work closely with Tata.
Read the full storyTata workers worried in Port Talbot
Tata Steel employee Wayne Thomas said staff at the Port Talbot steelworks were 'trying to pull together to keep the company going.'
"Quite a few people are worried about the loss of wages and where the economy is at the moment," Mr Thomas said.
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"We are struggling in this market" says Tata boss
At the launch of Tata Steel's £240 million furnace project at its Port Talbot steelworks, the factory's managing director Jon Ferriman said the demand for steel was 'far less than five years ago'.
"Consumers are really not buying, therefore we are struggling in that market," said Mr Ferriman.
Tata CEO: "We need Government to act"
Karl Kohler, CEO of Tata Steel Europe, said that Government policies needed to change to support the manufacturing industry in the UK.
Welsh Secretary on Tata's 'important milestone'
Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan says today marks an 'important milestone' in the work to assemble Blast Furnace No.4 at Tata Steel.
– Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl GillanThe next four months will see a period of intensive engineering activity as modules weighing over 500 tonnes will be lifted into place over the skies of its Port Talbot site.
Tata is clearly operating in an extremely challenging market – both domestically and internationally - but I am re-assured that Tata is fully committed to its investment in the UK. The company is one of our biggest employers in Wales and I look forward to seeing the new furnace taking shape over the coming months.
Steel workers' Union responds to Tata workers' cuts
Earlier today Tata steel announced its plans to cut workers' hours. It's part of a move to cut employment costs after a fall in the demand for steel.
Workers now face reduced hours, but Alan Coombs, from the Community Union, believes it's important that the Port Talbot steel manufacturer retains its skilled workforce.
– Alan Coombs, Community UnionMy view is we've got to share the pain. At the moment with the workforce we're looking at employment cost cuts but it's important that everybody takes the hit together and the skills stay in Port Talbot so the skills are ready to be taken advantage of when the markets return.
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Tata Steel: 'We really are struggling'
One of Wales' biggest employers has announced it plans to cut hundreds of workers' hours by almost a third.
The news comes after a number of tough years for the steel manufacturing company.
Spokesman Jon Ferriman says the company are trying to find methods of coping in a difficult time.
'Anxiety' over order book
Welsh Secretary 'reassured Tata is fully committed' to Wales
Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan has just issued this statement following Tata Steel's decision to delay relighting the new blast furnace its building at its Port Talbot plant:
It is understandable that Tata may have to take the decision to delay the relighting of blast furnace four at Port Talbot in the light of the current business climate. TATA is operating in an extremely challenging market - both domestically and internationally, but I am re-assured that Tata is fully committed to its investment in the UK. This will be a commercial decision and I understand that there will be no job losses as a result.
Tata Steel may delay relighting a blast furnace
The company says the decision to look at the order books before relighting furnace 4 won't affect the rebuild project
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