'This isn't over': Unions vow to fight 'rejection' of plan to save Tata Steel jobs

Unions have warned of a bitter fight ahead, saying their plans to avert thousands of job losses at Tata Steel have been rejected by the company.

Tata had announced in January a consultation on cutting up to 2,800 jobs in the UK, the majority of them at the country's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales.

It followed confirmation that the Indian-owned firm wanted to close down the blast furnaces at the plant and replace them with electric arc furnaces under a plan to reduce emissions and costs.

GMB, Unite and Community union representatives met Tata counterparts at a London hotel to discuss the way forward on Thursday morning.

But the GMB said Tata informed them that the blast furnaces would be closed by the end of September, describing the decision as an "unwelcome but not expected slap in the face".

The plant is now widely expected to face widespread strike action.

Members of Community and the GMB are being balloted on whether to strike over the plans.

Unite members have already voted in favour of industrial action.

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