Hundreds of jobs saved as deal struck for Rotherham Tata Steel plant

It was announced yesterday that Tata Steel has signed an agreement to sell its South Yorkshire specialty steels operation, including plants at Aldwarke, Brinsworth and Stocksbridge, to London-based Liberty House Group.

Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey said: “It's great news to get the thumbs up from the Tata board for this sale. It should be a big step in securing steel-making in South Yorkshire for the long-term. 

“2016 was an awful year of job cuts and uncertainty in Tata but the sale agreement means steel-workers and their families can start to see light at the end of the tunnel during 2017.”

Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of Community, the steelworkers’ union, said: “Today's news is a welcome step forward in securing the future of the Speciality Steels business. However, this is not the end of the process and there is still work to do before the sale is completed.

“We are continuing to ballot our members in Speciality Steels over the future of the British Steel Pension Scheme and proposed alternative pension arrangements, which, should our members vote to accept the proposals, would transfer over as part of their terms and conditions once a sale is completed."