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THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 27 2017


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Local politicians lukewarm on Tata deal Bethan Jenkins AM:


If workers' fears come to pass, unions should apologise to workers “Each employee of TATA has a


Nia Griffith MP: At a meeting with Trostre steelworkers POLITICANS have called on Tata


Steel to improve their offer to workers in a week where First Minister Carwyn Jones’ claim that the Tata deal was the only one on offer was questioned. Llanelli’s Labour MP Nia Griffith


spoke out after meeting workers at the Trostre works. Noting particularly the effects that the proposed pension deal could have on older workers, she said: “Following a meeting with steel workers from Trostre last week, I have again approached Tata management to ask if there is any way they could make the deal on the table any more palatable to workers. “Whilst we all understand the


immense importance of the steelworks to the local economy, when you actually see the facts and figures of what the cut in pensions is going to mean, particularly to older workers, it is clear why they have every right to be very angry – and this cut is on top of a 25% cut in pensions they had to accept a mere 18 months ago. No wonder they are sceptical about the company’s promises and feel that they are being bullied into accepting a deal by Tata which just wants to cut back its pension responsibilities.


“In particular, I have asked Tata to


consider some tapering arrangements for those workers worst affected because their birthdays fall just the wrong side of the dates for the changes.” AM Lee Waters suggested the deal


on offer was ‘economic blackmail by a multinational company playing off governments and workers to try and minimise its costs and maximise its profits’, and suggested that if concerns were not addressed, there was a real risk that union members could vote against the deal. Last week, it emerged that a rival


bid by Excalibur, which had previously been backed by the Welsh Government, was still live, rather contradicting Carwyn Jones’ recent claim in the Senedd that: "In the absence of anything from the UK Government, and the lack of interest from the UK Government since the last Prime Minister left his office, I believe this is the only deal on the table." This followed Reuters reports that


city financier Edi Truell is also fronting a bid for the British Steel Pensions Scheme without cutting benefits. Mr Price said: "As news of two alternative deals emerge, this represents a


clear shift in the dynamic of the situation facing steel workers in Wales. "It appears that Excalibur's bid,


which has been bankrolled by the Welsh Government, continues to be a live bid. This is alongside the British Steel Pensions Scheme bid fronted by Edi Truell as reported by Reuters. "This is contrary to the Welsh


Government's claim that there is only one deal on the table. "Workers have contacted us to say


they want independent advice to help them decide what the best way forward is for them. “This is more important than ever,


now that it transpires that there is more than one deal on the table. "In light of these developments,


Tata steel now would be very wise to strengthen their offer to meet the very real concerns over pension, investment and employment security expressed by steel workers." Mr Price has previously clashed with


union officials over the pension deal. Andy Richards, Unite Wales Secretary, described Mr Price’s public urging of steel workers to reject the pension deal as ‘deeply unhelpful at the present time’.


difficult and personal decision to make,” Mr Richards stressed. “As a Union we will be guided by our members. It is for them to instruct us as to what their collective position will be on the proposals. However, Plaid Cymru received a


leaked memo originally sent to union reps, which stated: "We understand that there continues to be some confusion around the proposal on which members will be voting and we are continuing to work on the information to be included with the ballot paper that will set out clearly what is being voted on." The memo also said: "We understand


reps may be facing a lot of questions from members. We would remind reps that individual pension questions should be directed to the BSPS or the company as appropriate. However, if there are frequent questions or issues that keep coming up about any of the proposals on which members will vote, then do let us know and we will seek to provide you


ACCORDING to reports


as we were going to press the Conservative Party has claimed, TATA are offering a new deal to steel workers – with unions said to be recommending that workers accept it.


with the necessary information to respond to members." This drew sharp criticism from


Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru's steel spokesperson: "We are just over a week before workers are going to be balloted, and the information that some of them have been waiting for since the offer was first announced is still being worked on?,” she asked. “If the unions had taken Plaid


Cymru's call seriously - as an earnest request from representatives of these men and women - instead of seeking to label the concerns we were relaying as political interference, then perhaps they would have had more answers by now and wouldn't have been forced to come to me and others. "If it subsequently transpires that


those workers' fears come to pass, the unions and all those Labour politicians who back this deal should personally apologise to steelworkers."


BREAKING NEWS


Responding to the reports, Welsh Conservative Leader – Andrew RT Davies said: “Ultimately, this is welcome news, as there had been genuine fears that union members were going to refuse TATA’s existing offer."


First voluntary contributor to Ymlaen Llanelli YMLAEN LLANELLI, the


town.


town’s Business Improvement District, is happy to announce that David Darkin, of Darkin Architects, has become the first business in Llanelli Town Centre under the £6,000 rateable value threshold to pay voluntarily into the BID. In December 2015, businesses in


Llanelli voted in favour of establishing a Business Improvement District in the town. Ymlaen Llanelli will raise an investment pot for Llanelli Town Centre of over £500,000 over five years, from a levy of 1.25% of the rateable value of eligible businesses. All businesses with a rateable value over £6,000 have to pay the BID levy, regardless of how they voted in the ballot.


Businesses received their first


levy bills last autumn and although this has not been popular with all business owners, more are seeing the opportunity Ymlaen Llanelli offers the


Mr Darkin said: “I see Ymlaen


Llanelli as a fantastic opportunity for the town and although I don’t have to pay the levy as my business is below the threshold, I am more than happy to do so. I want to be involved, contribute ideas and have a voice in what the BID money is spent on. I really hope others in the town follow suit.” Ymlan Llanelli has a targeted


programme of projects and priorities aimed at creating a better town centre which is more accessible, well promoted and more attractive. Achieving this will help bring more visitors, attract new businesses and create a better environment for those who work and live in the town. Ymlaen Llanelli has been working


with the council on parking issues in the town. It also brought the highly successful Reindeer Parade to Llanelli on December 3 last year, with other events planned for the coming months.


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