Teesside writer takes to plinth to highlight steel workers' jobs'
crisis
25th August 2009
WHEN: 3pm,
Wednesday, 26th August 2009
WHERE: Trafalgar Square, London
Unite members and Corus workers from across Teesside will
highlight their jobs plight by demonstrating at the Fourth Plinth
in Trafalgar Square tomorrow (Wednesday) in their campaign to
safeguard the 150-year old plant.
Teesside writer Linda Robinson, who is supporting the Unite
campaign, will be on the Fourth Plinth from 3pm as part of the
Anthony Gormley 'One & Other' exhibition. She will be reading
various short stories and poems, one of which is dedicated to the
Corus workers called 'Steel River'.
A delegation of placard waving Corus workers will also surround
the plinth with the 'Save our Steel' banner, as part of the
campaign to save the North East’s Corus plant.
Unite, a leading union at the Corus plant, says the community in
Teesside will be devastated if this plant was shut down, as
thousands of local families and businesses depend on the plant for
their livelihoods. This is in response to news that 2,800 jobs and
a further 1,000 jobs from companies supplying Corus are at risk
since a consortium of companies pulled out of a 10 year
contract.
Unite regional officer, Bob Bolam, said: “Steel making is a
major part of the UK economy and we are bringing our campaign to
save Corus to London to raise the general public’s awareness of
their plight. We call upon Gordon Brown and the government to put
every effort into saving steel making on Teesside for future
generations.
“The failure of the consortium to live up to its obligations is
disastrous news for these workers. We are urging the company to do
everything possible to protect these workers’ jobs."
This campaign has also gained the support of Middlesbrough South
and East Cleveland Labour MP, Ashok Kumar. He said: “This protest
has my full, whole-hearted, backing. I wish our local
representatives well. They will be excellent ambassadors for
Teesside Steel, Teesside’s workers and Teesside’s communities.”
ENDS
For further information contact Bob Bolam on 07768 693948 or
Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Sculptor Antony Gormley has invited people to help create an
astonishing living monument. He is asking the people of the UK to
occupy the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in London. Every
hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, different
people will make the plinth their own.
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