News
Interviews ‘secured’ after Murco jobs fair
MORE than 300 former employees of Murco and people who work for their supplier companies visited a Jobs Fair this week at the Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock. The Jobs Fair was organised by JobCentre Plus on behalf of the Murco Task Force. Visitors were able to see and discuss many jobs on offer from places as far afield as Canada and Saudi Arabia, as well as from local firms in Pembrokeshire. A number of interviews were secured.
Cllr Jamie Adams visited the Jobs Fair and spoke to a number of the businesses offering jobs. He said: “The County Council are pleased that they were able to support Job Centre Plus in facilitating this event at the Bridge Innovation Centre. “While I was pleased to see so many jobs on offer for skilled workers it was somewhat disappointing to see that a large proportion of these were outside of Wales and that skills and knowledge will inevitably be lost to Pembrokeshire.”
He added: “We are also aware that a number of other local businesses will suffer as a result of the situation at Murco. “We urge them to contact either the Council’s regeneration team based in the Bridge Innovation Centre or one of the other public sector partners represented on the Task Force so that assistance can be offered to these businesses and to their staff.” Speaking last week, Cllr Paul Miller told The Herald: “Murco staff need jobs and I am pleased that something is being done for them.
I am, however, very concerned about the impact of the risk of loss to the local economy. It is better something is done than nothing, but I will be fighting to make sure that we have skilled and well-paying jobs available in Pembrokeshire.”
News
Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash
THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.
Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.
The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.
Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”
The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.
News
Firefighters tackle blaze at block of garages in Monkton
ONE person was injured as a result of a sunday afternoon garage fire in a block of garages in Monkton.
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service told The Pembrokeshire Herald said: “At 1.31pm on March 17, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven crews were called to extinguish a fire in an alight central garage and were forced to use two breathing apparatus and two hose reels.
“The firefighters reportedly left the scene at 3.02pm after continuing to dampen the fire and check for fire spread.
“The casualty was treated by ambulance service personnel also in attendance.”
The police confirmed that a garage fire had been dealt with by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service attended.
News
Air ambulance called following incident at Aldi Pembroke Dock
THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE, along with the Welsh Ambulance Service and police were called on Monday morning to an incident at the Aldi supermarket car park in Pembroke Dock.
The Herald understands that the alarm was raised after a car hit a person in the car park after 9am.
We have been told that the incident involved a local taxi.
The emergency services have been asked for a comment.
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