Received from: Community
Congress notes that Britain needs a strong and sustainable steel industry to build back better and deliver net-zero. Rebuilding our economy is going to require millions of tonnes of high-quality, British-made steel because if we’re serious about reducing global emissions it is nonsensical to continue importing dirty steels from the other side of the world. Moreover, the green industries of the future, like offshore wind and electric vehicles, will all require a reliable source of domestically produced steel. Net-zero means we need to grow Britain’s steel industry, not shrink it, and in doing so create new jobs and opportunities in parts of the country that most need them.
Congress acknowledges that our steel industry has to decarbonise, in a responsible way, and recognises that the future of British steelmaking is supporting green jobs at the core of a low-carbon economy. Congress firmly believes that trade unions must be at the heart of the decision-making process to deliver a just transition that protects jobs and steel communities. Congress further believes that steelworkers must get all the support they need to adapt to new circumstances and acquire new skills where jobs change or evolve.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
- continue to support the steel unions’ “Britain, We Need Our Steel” campaign
- lobby for a green industrial strategy based on a foundation of steel
- in advance of COP26, lobby government to deliver the support and financial backing we need to decarbonise our steel industry and secure its long-term future.
Community