Steel giant Corus to axe 2,000 jobs

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Sources said plants including Rotherham and Scunthorpe will be hardest hit by the latest cutback by the steel giant, which has already axed thousands of jobs this year.

The new cuts will hit the firm's long products division, which supplies steel to the construction industry, one of the worst affected by the recession.

The company refused to confirm the job losses, but unions described the cuts as "devastating".

Corus, owned by by Indian firm Tata, announced earlier this year that it was axing more than 10% of its UK workforce, by cutting 3,500 jobs worldwide, including 2,500 in this country.

The firm announced a series of cost-cutting measures in January, including the mothballing of a mill in South Wales, and restructuring several parts of its business.

The Community union described the latest cuts as as "devastating" and said there was now a fight on for the future of British steelmaking.

General secretary Michael Leahy said: "It's devastating news for our members and their families in steel communities right across the UK. This is bad news on top of bad news - this brings the Corus job cuts for the year to around 4,500 and that's without the threat to thousands of workers on Teesside and potentially more job cuts in the pipeline for Corus Strip UK.

"All this just adds to the misery for steelworkers. Corus need to decide if they really are trying to be fit for the future or just fit for the scrapheap.

"We have real concerns for the integrity of the British steel industry - we fear its further erosion could fundamentally undermine UK manufacturing. The Government must also take action before it's too late."