6 June 2003
THE CARDIFF steel plant formerly owned by Allied Steel and Wire, which was closed last year, is to be reopened by new owners Celsa.
The plant was closed last July, with the loss of 900 jobs, when Allied Steel and Wire went into receivership. Celsa later bought most of the company’s plant and machinery in Cardiff and promised to invest in the site so that it could restart production should market conditions remain stable.
Celsa hopes to employ up to 400 full-time staff and 200 contractors when the plant is reopened. The company aims to produce 100,000 t of steel annually at the site.
“We welcome the announcement by Celsa to reopen the plant,” said Michael Leahy, general secretary of steel union ISTC. “It’s great news for the local community and our members, who have suffered greatly recently.”
“We will be seeking talks with the company to explore how we can work together to make the plant a success. It’s very important that Celsa re-employs as many former workers of the ASW plant as possible.”
Bob Bird, senior divisional organiser for the ISTC in Cardiff, said: “We are hopeful that the skills our members had before the closure will be recognised and that as many members will be set back on as possible.”