U.K.: 10,000 TO BE LAID OFF AS STRIKE CLOSES STEELWORKS.

Record ID: 342085

  • Title: U.K.: 10,000 TO BE LAID OFF AS STRIKE CLOSES STEELWORKS.
  • Date: 2nd August 1969
  • Summary: 1. GV PORT TALBOT STEEL WORKS. (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. GV DESERTED YARDS - PAN TO BLAST FURNACES. 0.27 3. GV POLICEMAN PATROLS OUTSIDE STEEL WORKS. 0.40 4. GV ZOOM OUT - DOCK AREA OF STEEL WORKS. 0.54 5. GV PAN ACROSS DOCK AREA OF STEEL WORKS. 1.12 Initials WW/VS/CR/PF Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th August 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PORT TALBOT, U.K.
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA1VI4RSQKNOUV85HQR3XO8XNR6
  • Story Text: ABOUT 10,000 MEN WILL BE LAID OFF NEXT WEEK WHEN BRITAIN'S LARGEST STEELWORKS - THE ABBEY AND MARGAM WORKS IN PORT TALBOT, WALES - IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE FIVE-WEEK UNOFFICIAL STRIKE BY 1,300 BLASTFURNACEMEN.

    THE SHUTDOWN BEGAN TODAY (2 AUGUST) AND WILL BE TOTAL BY MONDAY (4 AUGUST) AFTERNOON. THIS FOLLOWS THE COLLAPSE OF ALMOST 30 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS NEGOTIATION AT THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY.

    ANY RESUMPTION OF PRODUCTION FOLLOWING MONDAY'S SHUTDOWN COULD TAKE THREE OF FOUR WEEKS. IF PROLONGED, THE CLOSURE MIGHT HIT OTHER KEY BRITISH INDUSTRIES, AFFECTING EXPORTS.

    SO FAR, THE STRIKE HAS COST ABOUT GBP4,000,000 IN LOST PRODUCTION. NORMAL WEEKLY OUTPUT OF 50,000 TONS (500,000 QUINTALS) OF CRUDE STEEL FROM FIVE BLASTFURNACES HAD DROPPED TO 24,000 TONS (240,000 QUINTALS) FROM TWO. NOW THESE TWO ARE BEING CLOSED AS WELL.

    THE BLASTFURNACEMEN ARE CLAIMING GBP1-A-WEEK RISES FOR 140 LOWER-PAID WORKERS. AN INTERIM OFFER BY THE SOUTH WALES DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION WAS REFUSED, AND THE BLASFURNACEMEN WENT ON STRIKE ON JUNE 26.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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