News
Unite members to fight job losses and blast furnace closures
AROUND 1,500 Tata steelworkers based in Port Talbot and Newport Llanwern have voted decisively for industrial action over the company’s plan to close its blast furnaces and shed 2,800 jobs.
It is the first time in over 40 years that Port Talbot steelworkers have gone on strike.
The ballot for strike action by members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, closed today with workers voting in favour of industrial action over Tata’s ‘disastrous’ plans. This was despite Tata threatening the workers with the loss of enhanced redundancy pay if they did.

Unite said Tata has other choices after the union secured a commitment from Labour that it will invest £3 billion in UK steel, compared to the £500 million pledged by the current government.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an historic vote. Not since the 1980s have steel workers voted to strike in this way. This yes vote has happened despite Tata’s threats that if workers took strike action, enhanced redundancy packages would be withdrawn. Unite will be at the forefront of the fight to save steelmaking in Wales. We will support steel by all and every means.
“Other EU countries are transitioning their steel industries while retaining and growing their capacity because they know steel has a bright future – a tenfold increase in demand is predicted in the coming years. In the UK, Tata’s plans and those of the government reflect the short-term thinking of a clapped-out disinterested government marking time to a general election.
“In contrast Labour have done the right thing and committed £3 billion to UK steel following intense discussions with Unite.
“The average age of a Unite Port Talbot worker is 36. Workers and the communities of Port Talbot and Llanwern are looking to the years ahead. They know that with the right choices steelmaking capacity and jobs can be kept and the benefits of growing the industry grasped.
“In the crucial weeks to come, Tata’s workers and Unite will put up picket lines to prevent the company from taking this disastrous path.”
At the Tata plant in the Netherlands, the blast furnaces are being kept open and jobs protected as the company builds an electric arc furnace and invests in hydrogen DRI technology. In Germany, a single plant produces more steel than the whole of the UK industry put together.
Dates for strike action scheduled to cause maximum impact will be announced soon.
Unite Wales regional secretary Peter Hughes said: “Tata has employed everything from bribes to threats to discourage our members from industrial action. They will not be intimidated into standing by while Tata attempts to carry out an act of devastating industrial vandalism against their jobs and communities, inflicting untold harm on the Welsh economy and the UK’s national interest.
“Our members have their union’s absolute support in striking to stop these cuts – Unite is backing them every step of the way.”
Responding to news that Unite steelworkers have voted to strike over job losses at Tata Steel in Port Talbot, Paul Davies MS, Shadow Minister for Economy, said: “Steelworkers in Port Talbot are understandably very concerned about their futures, and our thoughts are with them.
“The Welsh Conservatives are proud that the UK Conservative Government has stepped up to put over half a billion pounds on the table to save steel jobs in Port Talbot.
“It’s time for the Labour Welsh Government, which hasn’t put a penny on the table in years, to scrap the pet projects and support our steelworkers instead.”
Tom Giffard MS and Altaf Hussain MS, Senedd Members for South Wales West, added: “This is clearly a very difficult time for the communities in and around Port Talbot and everything must be done to support everyone impacted.”
Meanwhile steelworkers’ union Community has urged its members to take a stand in support of the steel industry as it launches its ballot for industrial action at Tata Steel UK today.
The union is balloting members in response to Tata’s bad deal for steel, a proposal which would remove the UK’s virgin steelmaking capacity and result in the loss of thousands of steel jobs. The bulk of the job losses would be at Port Talbot and Llanwern, with further losses at other Tata Steel sites across the UK.
Community has highlighted that Tata’s proposals for decarbonisation on the cheap would lead to the closure of Blast Furnace 4 at Port Talbot, the pausing of steel production for three years, the closure of Llanwern’s cold mill, and the building of an untested 3mt Electric Arc Furnace with no secured scrap supply.
Community Union General Secretary Roy Rickhuss said: “We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Tata’s bad deal for steel would be a hammer blow for our steel industry. It would see vital skilled jobs lost, and dirty steel products imported from overseas. The loss of primary steelmaking capacity would make Britain an outlier on the G20, and would weaken national security in an increasingly uncertain world. That’s to say nothing of the devastation that would be wrought on communities built on steel in South Wales and beyond.
“Tata’s plan is bad for jobs, bad for the environment and bad for Britain. It’s unviable, undeliverable and unacceptable, and our members won’t be bullied or intimidated into accepting it.
“Industrial action is always a last resort for any worker, but our members know that we now have to fight to save our industry, and we must every tool at our disposal to apply pressure on Tata to change course. We are urging our members to vote ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes’ for industrial action, and we urge the company to look again at our Multi-Union Plan – a credible alternative to Tata’s plan which safeguards primary steelmaking capacity and avoids compulsory redundancies.”
Community’s National Officer for Steel, Alun Davies, said: “Steelworkers now have a chance to be a part of history and to take a stand to protect our vital steel industry. No steel job is safe under Tata’s bad deal for steel, and it’s imperative that we all band together as one at this critical time.
“Future generations will ask what we did in when our jobs and communities were threatened by Tata’s and the Government’s dirty and damaging deal which leaves no steel job safe. We’ll be able to proudly answer them that we did not go gently into the night, that we stood up for our proud industry, and that we took action to forge a future for steel when it mattered most. That’s why we are asking our members to vote ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes’ in the ballot which opens today.”
The ballot opens today, 11th April, and will run for a month.
Crime
Three more arrested after 18-year-old dies in Gorseinon crash
Five people are now in custody following a collision involving a car and an off-road motorcycle
THREE more men have been arrested after an 18-year-old died following a collision between a car and an off-road motorcycle in Gorseinon.
South Wales Police were called to Pen Cae Crwn Road at around 12:58pm on Thursday, where the teenager, who is believed to have been from Swansea, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second man, aged 19, was taken to hospital with injuries.
Two 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.
Police confirmed on Friday that a further three arrests had been made.
A 33-year-old man from Gorseinon was arrested on suspicion of murder.
A 38-year-old man from Gowerton and a 38-year-old man from Mount Pleasant were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the investigation to five.
Several roads in the area remained closed on Friday morning while officers continued their investigation.
Cordons had been removed from some streets, although traffic cones, road signs and police tape remained at the roadside.
Gorseinon Rugby Club chairman Ian Murphy said the local community had been left in “deep shock”.
He said: “For youngsters to get involved in a tragedy like this is shocking and disturbing, very disturbing for us all.
“Everybody was talking about it. All the roads were closed by police and ambulances, so it took a while for it to sink in what was going on.
“We were aware that there might have been a chase involving a car and a motorbike, and the full tragedy unfolded from there.”
South Wales Police has not confirmed the circumstances leading up to the collision, and enquiries remain ongoing.
Health
Hywel Dda patients waited average of 64 weeks for hip surgery
Freedom of Information figures show more than 1,600 patients remained on the health board’s hip replacement waiting list in May
PATIENTS awaiting elective hip replacement surgery under Hywel Dda University Health Board waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year, according to newly released figures.
The average wait was equivalent to just over 64 weeks, significantly longer than the treatment times set out under Welsh NHS targets.
The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the health board by private healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.
In Wales, the stated aim is for 95% of patients to begin treatment within 26 weeks of referral, with no patient waiting longer than 36 weeks.
Hywel Dda confirmed that 1,608 patients were on its waiting list for hip replacement surgery as of May 28, 2026.
The health board also said 16 patients had been removed from the waiting list during the 2025/26 financial year after choosing to undergo treatment privately.
Hip replacement surgery is most commonly offered to people experiencing severe pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, often after other treatments such as physiotherapy, pain relief, injections and lifestyle changes have failed to provide sufficient relief.
Sara Gezdari, Head of Investor Relations at My Medical Gateway, said prolonged waits could have a serious effect on patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing.
She said: “Many people join NHS waiting lists after already spending months or years attempting to manage their condition through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, injections and lifestyle modifications.
“By the time surgery is recommended, they are often already struggling. The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life.”
She said patients waiting for surgery could experience increasing pain, disrupted sleep, reduced mobility, loss of independence, social isolation and worsening mental health.
Long waits could also have financial consequences, particularly for people whose employment relies on physical mobility.
Ms Gezdari added: “Many patients continue working despite severe symptoms. As pain worsens, productivity often falls. Some reduce their hours. Others leave work entirely.
“The consequences can be particularly significant for self-employed individuals who depend upon physical mobility to earn a living.”
My Medical Gateway said private hip replacement surgery in the UK typically costs between £12,549 and £14,950.
The company, which connects UK patients with private hospitals in the European Union, said the average price offered by many European providers was approximately £9,088.
However, travelling abroad for medical treatment can involve additional considerations, including travel costs, insurance, post-operative care and arrangements if complications arise.
The Freedom of Information response was returned by Hywel Dda University Health Board on June 8, 2026.
Education
Saundersfoot graduate secures teaching job before completing degree
Local school placements helped Millie Brace gain the experience and connections needed to begin her career at Templeton Primary School
A SAUNDERSFOOT student is celebrating after graduating from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and securing a teaching job in Pembrokeshire before completing her degree.
Millie Brace graduated this week with a BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.
She will begin her first teaching post at Templeton Primary School in September.
Millie said the opportunity to remain close to home and complete placements in Pembrokeshire schools had been a major factor in her decision to study at UWTSD.
“I chose UWTSD because it allowed me to stay close to my family and continue living at home while studying, which was important to me,” she said.
“Another key reason was the opportunity to complete local teaching placements.
“I knew how competitive teaching jobs can be in Pembrokeshire, so gaining experience in local schools was a great way to build professional connections and develop an understanding of the schools and communities I want to work in.”
Her placements allowed her to gain experience in a range of classrooms and helped her develop the confidence needed to apply for teaching roles.
“Before graduating, I was delighted to secure a teaching position at an amazing primary school in my local area,” she said.
Millie praised the support she received from university staff, school mentors and teachers during her final placement at Lamphey Primary School.
“Although I had not previously taught that particular year group, I received fantastic support from my class mentors and staff at Lamphey Primary School,” she said.
“Their knowledge and experience, combined with the research and understanding I developed through my course and assignments, greatly increased my confidence.”
Millie said the flexibility of the degree allowed her to explore subjects linked directly to her classroom experience and professional development.
“My favourite thing about the course was the flexibility of the assignments,” she said.
“They allowed me to explore topics that genuinely interested me and focus on areas that reflected my personal development targets from placements.
“This made the work feel relevant to my experiences in the classroom and helped me connect theory with practice.”
She also valued the sense of community at the Carmarthen campus and the friendships she formed with other student teachers.
“One of the biggest challenges during my studies was adapting to different placement schools and managing the increasing expectations placed on me as I progressed,” she said.
“Each school had its own routines, approaches and learning environments.
“What helped me most was the support of other student teachers. We shared resources, exchanged ideas and helped each other with lesson planning and preparation.”
Outside her studies, Millie continued to enjoy the Pembrokeshire coastline, spending her spare time paddleboarding, walking her dog and learning to surf.
She said she would recommend UWTSD to anyone considering a career in teaching.
“The course provided excellent placement opportunities, allowing me to gain valuable experience in local schools and build professional connections that helped me secure a teaching job before graduating,” she said.
“I have also made friends for life, and the relationships I built have been one of the most rewarding parts of my university experience.”
Millie will now take the next step in her career when she joins Templeton Primary School at the beginning of the new academic year.
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