It is reported that the national trade union leader of 2,500 Scunthorpe Corus steelworkers has challenged the opposition Tory leader Mr David Cameron over an exclusive interview he gave this week to the Scunthorpe Telegraph.
In the interview at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Mr Cameron said that the Scunthorpe plant had an important role to part to play in the economic recovery of Britain. But he said any form of subsidy or protection from the government was not the right answer.
His remarks prompted Mr Michael Leahy, the national general secretary of Scunthorpe's biggest steel union Community, to send an open letter to the House of Commons. In the letter, Mr Leahy tells Mr Cameron "I read with interest your belated support for the steel industry. Since January 2009, the steel industry has been hit by this global recession in an unprecedented way. The workforce and management have worked together to keep costs low but despite help we have seen thousands of job losses."
He added that "I am surprised it has taken until October for you to notice the plight of hard working families in steel communities. While your warm words are welcome, the workforce in the steel industry and all steel sector stakeholders will wonder what your support will mean."
(Sourced from www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk)
