New offer at Tata Steel

Steel unions Community, Unite, GMB and UCATT have suspended industrial action at Tata Steel, after the firm tabled a revised offer which would keep the British Steel pension scheme open.

Members of the four unions had voted for action after the firm announced the closure of the scheme and initially refused to discuss alternative proposals from the unions. A work to rule and overtime ban has been called off, as has the one-day strike that had been planned for 22 June, and the unions will now ballot their members over the new offer.

The unions are recommending acceptance of the deal, reached through talks brokered by the conciliation service Acas.

Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss, who chairs the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, said that it was “members standing up for their pensions” that had “made Tata Steel change its mind”.

The proposed deal will enable members to continue to accrue final salary pension benefits and addresses the principle of early retirement, according to union negotiators.

www.community-tu.org/who-we-are/news/tata-steel-strike-action-suspended.aspx