Do something Mr Brown; Steelworkers' call to PM over job cuts.

Byline: SARAH JUDD

TEESSIDE steelworkers are petitioning the Prime Minister to save Corus jobs, after the latest announcement that the company is to cut 2,000 employees in the UK.

The latest decision by the Indian-owned company saw 428 workers from Lackenby Beam Mill, Skinningrove, Hartlepool and Darlington enter a 90-day consultation period today.

Meanwhile, more than 2,000 workers at the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant are still under threat since a consortium of steel magnates walked away from a 10-year-deal to keep production at the Redcar blast furnace in early May.

As reported in Saturday's Gazette, Corus is now in talks with new potential buyers of the TCP site.

Following the latest announcement, Richard Caddy, who has worked for Corus at Teesside House for 14 years, set up a petition on the 10 Downing Street website.

Richard, whose 17-year-old son Joshua is also training at Teesside House, said: "He's been told he's one of the ones who are going to be finished.

"Everyone in the whole area is feeling down. It started with TCP and now it seems to be affecting every part of the business leading up to a big collapse."

Richard's son left Rye Hills School in Redcar and began his career at Corus testing products from the beam mill and other threatened sites.

Richard said: "I don't know what he will do now. I don't think there are many options in the area."

Richard's petition, which has so far been signed by more than 380 people calls for Government action to safeguard Corus jobs.

Richard said: "On the petition I've mentioned nationalising Corus but that's far and above expectations.

"It seems to be the case that if you're not making a profit, 'let's get rid of you'. In the 14 years I've been here there seems to have been jobs threatened every two years how long can you keep going like that?" Richard said the Government had to make saving British industry a priority. He said: "The Government have got to be willing, together with companies, to try to keep industry in Britain.

"Every time we buy something now in this country we are importing it.

"How long can an economy keep going like that with money going out of the country all the time and not enough coming in?" Craig Brooks, 48, a lab worker in Redcar Technical Centre for Corus, is backing Richard's campaign.

He said: "It's a good idea, especially if we can get lots of people to sign it.

"The petition also mentions the pounds 5m the Government has given for training support. We're really unsure what that money is meant for."

* To sign the petition go to gazettelive.co.uk/saveoursteel

CAPTION(S):

TAKING ACTION: Richard and Joshua Caddy with the petition on the computer, above, Craig Brooks, centre, on a march for jobs in Birmingham, right, and our story on the job cuts, top right