Unions urge government to use UK Steel in infrastructure projects

Three UK steel unions, Unite, GMB and Community, have launched a joint campaign for the future of the UK steel industry. Through Britain's We Need Our Steel Campaign, unions are calling on Boris Johnson to announce an infrastructure and investment program to help the country recover from the coronavirus and use UK-produced steel to support industry. Unite Assistant Secretary General Steve Turner said: “The UK steel industry is central to any Covid-19 recovery and reconstruction strategy, supporting the construction of new infrastructure from hospitals and schools to railways and energy production. He is willing to provide steel to upgrade our navy and convert our automotive industry to electric vehicles. British steel plays a role in global efforts to green our economy, capture its emissions and invest in collaborative technologies to protect the long-term security of our planet. Today we have come together as an industry with one voice to celebrate our contributions to the UK economy and the thousands of jobs and communities across our regions. Please join us in supporting our campaign to see British steel and our broader manufacturing sector at the center of our industrial strategy for improvement. "

Community Secretary General Roy Rickhass said: “If the government's plans to build, build, build are to successfully revitalize our economy and provide jobs in the UK, then they must use British steel. There is so much at stake that we are beginning to look beyond this crisis, it is important that we get it right as a country. Our message is simple: "Britain, we need our steel." This means every opportunity to use British products made by companies in the UK and workers on our shores must be seized. Government and employers must work together to create a plan that uses British steel and invests in our industry and our people. If they do that, not only our steelworkers and steelmaking communities will reap the benefits, but the whole country. Our world-class steelworkers are already doing everything they can to bring our country out of the crisis. start making the steel our NHS needs for hospital beds and packaging to keep our shelves supplied with food. They are ready to serve again to produce the millions of tons of steel we need to recover from this crisis.