OCCUPY CORUS! NO SACKINGS! RENATIONALISE NOW!
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OCCUPY CORUS! NO SACKINGS! RENATIONALISE NOW!
THERE were oceans of tears yesterday for the 1,700 workers who are to
be sacked when Corus mothballs the greater part of its plant on
Teesside, in January, but no plans by the trade union leaders or the
government to keep Corus Teesside open.
The employer Corus blamed the closure on an international company that
had broken a solemn contract, and emphasised: ‘We are acutely aware
that this will be devastating news for our employees, our contractors
and their families.’
Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, was convinced that everything
that could have been done was done.
He said: ‘The Government worked hard with all parties following the
cancellation of the main supply contract in May to continue the
agreement but a commercial solution could not be found.’
He added that it would be a ‘very difficult time for the workforce’,
and that he was especially concerned that the sackings were taking
place at Christmas time.
However, that ‘concern’ is not going to be translated into action. The
government that has spent £850bn in the last year saving the bankrupt
banks and keeping them going is refusing to nationalise Corus to save
workers’ jobs.
As far as the Labour government is concerned, only the bankers matter.
They express their regrets at the plight of the workers and then turn
their backs on them.
Yesterday, the trade union leaders were following Mandelson’s lead.
The Community Union general secretary, Michael J Leahy OBE, said:
‘Community Union are calling on Tata Corus to reverse this decision
and continue to support the workforce on Teesside.’
He added: ‘To that end, we are seeking urgent talks with the
Government to discuss what assistance they can provide to preserve the
steelmaking infrastructure of Teesside and prevent a community being
devastated.’
Leahy did not call for the Brown government to renationalise Corus,
the only policy that can save workers’ jobs.
Faced with a massive capitalist collapse, reformist and careerist
trade union leaders just fold up and leave the workers to their fate.
The GMB union is of the same mould.
It just said: ‘This is devastating news from Teesside and shows how
fragile the recovery from the recession is proving to be. What a
terrible contrast with 1,700 workers losing their jobs on Teesside
while the multi-millionaire bankers gorge themselves at the expense of
the tax payers.’
The GMB refused to demand the nationalisation of Corus. It was
determined not to fall out with Mandelson and Brown.
Unite’s joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, said: ‘This is
absolutely devastating news for the men and women who work at
Teesside. This is a dark day for British manufacturing. Unite will do
everything possible to prevent this closure from going ahead.’
Simpson also refused to demand nationalisation! He is more interested
in keeping in with Brown and Mandelson than putting forward a policy
to save his members’ jobs.
Thousands took part in a march in July calling on the government to
help the Corus steel plant, after workers were put on 90-day
redundancy notice. The government refused.
Now workers must take action to defend their jobs and their families.
They must tell their leaders to stuff their sympathy and, if they are
not going to fight for their members’ jobs, to resign and make way for
leaders who will.
Workers must take action. They must occupy Corus and organise national
strike action to make sure that Corus is nationalised.