British Tata Steel mills threatened with strikes

Workers at Tata Steel in the United Kingdom who belong to the Unite union have voted to go on strike in late June 2015 in reaction to proposed changes to a former British Steel pension plan.

Tata Steel operates two integrated steel mills in the U.K., at Port Talbot, Wales, and Scunthorpe, England, and also operates an electric arc furnace (EAF) stainless steel mill in Rotherham, England. All three mills are former British Steel locations. Tata Steel also operates additional rolling and coating mills (without melt shops) in other parts of the U.K.

Under the proposed changes to the pension plan made by Tata Steel, workers will need to work for five additional years before they become eligible for their full pension.

According to a BBC News online report, if a strike involving the four unions at the mills (representing 17,000 steel workers) occurs, it will be the first nationwide steel strike in the U.K. in more than three decades.

Tata has released a statement saying its U.K. operations are losing money and the pension plan itself has a shortfall of more than £2 billion ($3.06 billion).