Received from: Community
Congress recognises the vital importance of the UK steel industry to our national economy, resilience, and security, as well as its central role in supporting regional economies across the country. Congress notes that steel provides thousands of high-quality, skilled jobs and is a cornerstone of our industrial base.
Congress acknowledges the Labour government’s commitment to delivering for steelworkers through the development of a steel strategy and deployment of the £2.5bn steel investment fund. Congress welcomes the decisive steps the government has already taken in support of our steel sector, including measures to ensure more UK steel is used in public procurement, action to protect our markets from cheap imports, and partially addressing the longstanding issue of uncompetitive energy costs. Congress also celebrates the government’s historic intervention to seize control of British Steel which prevented the closure of the blast furnaces and mass job losses.
Congress recognises, however, that UK steelmaking remains under huge pressure and more must be done to deliver the level playing field we need to be internationally competitive. Moreover, Congress strongly believes the government must stand ready to intervene to protect our strategically important steel assets wherever they are at risk.
Congress calls on the General Council to work with the Labour government to:
i. continue championing and supporting the steel industry at every level
ii. ensure the government uses all available levers to lower wholesale energy prices for UK steelmakers
iii. collaborate on developing and delivering the steel strategy
iv. safeguard the UK’s strategic steel assets and primary steelmaking capability.
Community
AMENDMENT
In paragraph 1, sentence 1, after “central role in”, insert: “UK infrastructure projects and maintenance”
In paragraph 2, sentence 3 after “job losses”, insert:
“at the site and in the supply chain. Further, Congress celebrates the £500m contract to provide British Steel for the UK’s railways.”
In paragraph 3, sentence 2, after risk, insert:
“, including in the supply chain where rail freight is essential for the delivery of the raw materials and finished steel products”
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen