JLR workers stand by Tata Steel UK bros, warn against ‘fire sale’

Supporting colleagues at troubled British unit of Tata Steel Europe, workers at JLR on Tuesday warned Tata Group Chairman against a 'fire sale' of its UK steel business, saying "it wasn't the responsible thing to do".

Representatives for thousands of car workers at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) wrote to Mistry, demanding the conglomerate acts responsibly by selling Tata Steel UK as a whole entity and allowing time for a credible buyer to be found, Unite, Britain and Ireland's largest trade union which claims to have over 1.4 million members, said in a statement.

"Expressing alarm over reports that the Tata Group is 'going through the motions' and was looking to 'dispose' of its UK steel operations in a matter of weeks, the Unite representatives warned Mistry against a 'fire sale' of its UK steel business, saying it wasn't the responsible thing to do," it added. The union further said the letter comes as leaders of Unite, Community and GMB met with business secretary Sajid Javid in the afternoon to demand government action to "save our steel ahead of Javid's meeting with Mr Mistry in Mumbai tomorrow", it added.

In their letter to Mistry, Bob Nason Unite chair of JLR and Ken Smith convenor at JLR Halewood, wrote that as union representing members in Jaguar Land Rover, "we are extremely concerned for our brothers and sisters working in the UK steel industry."

"We are alarmed to read comments in the press that the company is looking to dispose of its UK steel operations within a short period of time. This is not something that a responsible employer would seek to do, given any sale and the necessary arrangements and due diligence will take some considerable time," the letter added.