Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By Gareth Bromhall
In the early hours of 26th April the town of Port Talbot was rocked by a large explosion that residents report sounded like a bomb and woke many across the community.
The incident at the local Tata Steel plant, that employs thousands and maintains thousands more across the area, was caused by the spillage of molten metal being transported across the site by train.
Two workers where burned during the accident and are still being treated in hospital, although Tata have made it clear in public statements to reassure shareholders that output would not be effected as the blast furnaces where restarted on Monday.
Residents have expressed fear over safety at the sight, three workers were killed in an explosion on the site in 2001 and this latest accident prompted one resident to ask “if one day we’ll go up with it”. Safety fears have also prompted the on-site unions to call a meeting to discuss health and safety at the plant.
Socialist Party members and the NSSN have been involved in campaigns in recent years to save the plant after its planned mass layoffs, supported workers during a pensions battle and for its future during a planned merger.
Throughout these campaigns we have put the demand of public ownership to the fore, explaining that under private ownership profit will always outweigh the jobs, conditions and lives of the workers at the plant at the heart of the local community. Nationalisation under workers control and management is key to saving and improving the plant and would be an important step toward the socialist transformation of society, the only way to preserve those victories and plan democratically an economy that works for us all.
