Tata Steel Ltd.

Tata Steel’s Long Products business has taken restructuring proposals to help strengthen its competitiveness. The proposed changes predominately affect management and administrative functions at sites in Scunthorpe, Teesside and Workington and could lead to the loss of around 500 jobs.

About 340 positions could be affected in Scunthorpe, 90 in Workington and 40 in Teesside. The proposals come amid a prolonged downturn in demand for some of the key products made by the Scunthorpe-based business, including the UK market for construction steel, which is about half of 2007 levels.

A consultation process will begin soon with affected employees and their representatives. In addition, Tata Steel’s subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise will look at how it can provide more support to the local communities affected by the above decision and help stimulate new job creation in those areas.