PORT TALBOT: Steelworks fire burns into a second day as part of the building collapses — with union warning over jobs

The huge fire at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot works was still burning on Thursday, more than a day after it broke out — and crews are now battling a blaze that has buried itself beneath a collapsed building.

Part of the structure has caved in, making it far harder for firefighters to reach the flames, the Rapid Relief Team said after supporting crews at the scene.

A spokesman for the charity, which has been feeding responders throughout, said part of the building had “collapsed in” and that “a lot of machinery has fallen on top trapping the fire underneath.”

Live update from RRT Swansea who are still on scene supporting responders in Port Talbot at the Tata Steel incident.#rrtcares pic.twitter.com/OcRYDaV85W

The fire broke out at one of the site’s processing lines at around 8pm on Wednesday. All staff were accounted for and evacuated safely, as more than 100 firefighters were thrown at the blaze through the night — crews drawn from 16 stations across south and west Wales, with reinforcements from South Wales and Avon.

By Thursday afternoon the picture had hardened from “ongoing” to something more serious, with confirmation of significant damage and a fire that was proving stubborn to put out.

The union Unite said the blaze had caused “substantial damage to a vital production line” — and moved quickly to put jobs at the centre of the story.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham thanked the emergency services for bringing the situation under control so quickly, and said no one had been hurt and workers had been evacuated safely.

But she warned: “Measures must now be put in place to protect jobs both at Tata and down the supply chain during any period of disruption.”

She added that the union was asking Tata and the government to ensure that operations were “rebuilt as swiftly as possible.”

Unite Wales secretary Peter Hughes said the union was committed to working with the company to secure the long-term future of Port Talbot and the wider Tata operation in the UK.

The jobs warning lands in a town already on edge. Tata closed its two blast furnaces in 2024 with thousands of job losses, and is in the middle of a £1.25bn transformation of the site — switching to a greener electric arc furnace, with steel processing continuing in the meantime. A fire on one of those remaining lines is the last thing the workforce needed.

There was at least some reassurance for residents. Welsh Government monitoring showed air pollution in Port Talbot classed as low on Thursday, though officials note the effects of a fire can be localised — and South Wales Police’s advice for nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut still stands.

It was a punishing shift for the crews. The Rapid Relief Team said it served around 150 hot meals through the night and a further 70 on Thursday morning to keep responders going, with firefighters, ambulance HART medics and high-volume pump crews all rotating through its support tent.

Among the stations that sent crews through the night was Ammanford’s Station 57, which said its firefighters had worked alongside colleagues “from across the Service” and thanked partners on site for their cooperation.

The works is no stranger to those crews. In January, firefighters scaled a 32-metre tower at the steelworks in a dramatic multi-agency rescue drill — an exercise designed partly to test Tata’s emergency protocols in a live industrial setting. Months later, the same teams were back fighting the real thing.

It is the second major fire to grip Port Talbot in barely five weeks. At the end of April, a huge blaze involving around 200 tonnes of commercial waste sent black smoke billowing over the town from an industrial site on Dock Road.

Tata Steel has stressed the fire was not connected to the controlled demolition of an empty, redundant gas holder carried out at the site earlier on Wednesday evening, which it called safe and successful.

The cause has not been established, and the company has said it cannot yet assess the full damage.

This is a developing story and we will bring you more as we get it. Anyone affected by smoke is advised to keep windows and doors closed.

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PORT TALBOT: Steel plan sparks cautious hope — but big questions remain for Welsh jobs

At the heart of the strategy is a push to rebuild domestic steelmaking, including new tariffs on imports, a target for half of UK steel demand to be met at home, and billions in funding to support the industry’s transition.

For communities built around steel, the announcement lands at a critical moment.

In Port Talbot, the shift away from traditional blast furnaces is already under way, while in Llanelli, the Trostre works continues to play a key role in Welsh production. Together, they form part of an industry now facing one of the biggest changes in its history.

Local Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith has backed the plan, arguing it signals a more serious commitment to the sector after years of uncertainty.

Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said:
“The steel industry is a vital core element of our economy here in Wales, generating growth and providing thousands of jobs, including hundreds in my own constituency.

“This is a clear, well thought-out, long-term strategy for our steel industry that will help deliver the high-quality steel our country needs for our key infrastructure, our national security and for the wider economy.”

Her support reflects the Government’s central message — that the strategy will not only protect jobs, but put the industry on a more stable footing for the future.

But that optimism is far from universal.

Opposition figures say the plan raises as many questions as it answers, particularly around how much of the promised investment will reach Wales and what role UK steel will play in major future projects.

David Chadwick MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Wales, said:
“It is welcome that the Government has finally acted, but this looks like a panicked move after months of delay.

“Since the blast furnaces were switched off, Welsh steel has been left on life support.”

There are also concerns about the UK’s trading position, with warnings that being outside key European arrangements could leave exporters at a disadvantage in one of their biggest markets.

Industry voices have struck a similarly measured tone — welcoming steps to tackle cheap imports while warning that deeper issues remain unresolved.

Unite, which represents many steelworkers across Wales, says the new tariff regime is a positive step, but argues the industry needs a clearer long-term direction.

Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, said:
“Unite welcomes the strengthening of the UK’s tariff regime to prevent the dumping of cheap foreign steel onto the domestic market.

“But this last minute situation is just another reminder that the reactive approach to UK steel that sees it lurch from crisis to crisis needs to be overhauled.”

One of the biggest sticking points is the industry’s shift towards electric arc furnaces — a cleaner form of steelmaking that relies heavily on recycled materials.

While central to the Government’s net zero ambitions, unions have warned that relying too heavily on this approach could limit the UK’s ability to produce certain types of steel.

Peter Hughes, Unite regional secretary, said:
“The government must also back the production of virgin green steel as we can’t simply rely on electric arc furnaces to produce all the steel we need.”

Alongside the strategy, ministers have also unveiled a new funding stream aimed at helping areas like Port Talbot adapt to the changes.

The Economic Growth & Investment Fund will offer grants of up to £1.5 million to businesses across Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Bridgend, targeting sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green energy and digital industries.

Local leaders say it could help soften the economic impact of the transition — if it delivers.

Cllr Steve Hunt, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said:
“This fund provides an important opportunity to support businesses that are ready to invest, grow and create new jobs across the region.”

For now, the strategy marks a significant moment for Welsh steel — but not a settled one.

With major changes already under way and more still to come, the focus is quickly shifting from what has been promised to what will actually be delivered.

And for communities across South West Wales, that will ultimately be the measure that matters most.

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Bus strikes across South West Wales come to an end after deal agreed

The company announced this week that a revised pay offer has been accepted by staff, lifting the threat of further walkouts and restoring certainty for passengers.

Agreement brings relief after months of disruption

Industrial action by Unite members had caused widespread disruption to services in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Llanelli and beyond, with strikes stretching into the autumn and winter.

Several rounds of negotiations saw offers rejected, strikes postponed, and services repeatedly thrown into doubt. At one stage, Unite confirmed action would continue into January, escalating concerns for commuters and local councils.

The breakthrough came after First Cymru tabled an improved offer, which has now been accepted.

First Cymru statement

Doug Claringbold, Managing Director of First Bus Cymru, said:

“We are pleased that the revised offer has been accepted by colleagues and that the threat of further strike action has been lifted. This agreement provides certainty for our teams and our customers, and enables us to move forward together.

“Our priority now is to restore confidence and deliver the reliable, consistent services that our communities depend on every day. We want to thank our customers for their patience during this period of uncertainty, and we look forward to welcoming back anyone who may have been affected by the recent disruption.”

Looking ahead

The end of the strikes will be welcomed by thousands of passengers who rely on First Cymru buses daily for work, school and essential travel. Local leaders, including Neath Port Talbot Council, had previously voiced concern about the impact of prolonged disruption on communities and businesses.

With the agreement now in place, attention turns to rebuilding trust and ensuring services run smoothly through the busy winter period.

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First Cymru bus strikes confirmed as workers reject latest pay offer

Back pay row reignites walkouts

Unite the Union said its members had “overwhelmingly” voted to reject the latest offer, which did not include back pay. The union had paused strike action planned for 22 October in good faith, but confirmed that walkouts will now go ahead.

Strikes are scheduled for 30 and 31 October, and 1 and 2 November, with further action planned for 5 to 8 November. Unite has also warned that members are prepared to escalate the dispute into the Christmas period if necessary.

Union accuses company of “profiteering”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“First is guilty of trying to deny workers the back pay they are fully entitled to, in order to line its own pockets.”

The union claims First Cymru pays some of the lowest wages in the industry, and that new recruits are placed on a lower rate for 12 months, creating a “two-tier workforce.”

Unite also pointed to First Group’s latest financial results, which show £200 million in profit and a £3 million pay package for its chief executive.

Regional coordinating officer Alan McCarthy added:

“Communities across South Wales will now face bus chaos, but their anger should be directed at profiteering bus bosses who are seeking to short-change our members.”

Company says offer was “above inflation”

In a statement, First Cymru said it was “disappointed” by the rejection and warned customers to expect disruption.

“We have listened to Unite member feedback and made several offers to try to settle this dispute… Unfortunately, rather than work with us to find a resolution, Unite has decided to press ahead with strikes.”

The company said its door remains open to negotiation and promised updates on affected services via its website.

Pay gap and Real Living Wage comparisons

Unite said the recent announcement of the Real Living Wage uplift to £13.45 had further highlighted the gap between First Cymru drivers and their counterparts elsewhere.

The union claims drivers in Wales are earning up to £3 per hour less than those at other operators, including First Bus in Bristol.

What happens next

Strike action will begin Thursday 30 October, with services across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Llanelli and Carmarthenshire expected to be affected.

Passengers are advised to check First Cymru’s website for service updates and plan alternative travel where possible.

#busStrike #busStrikes #featured #FirstCymru #industrialAction #strikes #Union #UniteTheUnion #UniteUnion

First Cymru confirms bus strikes will go ahead after pay offer rejected

Company “disappointed” as talks fail

Doug Claringbold, Managing Director for First Bus in Cymru, said the company was “disappointed for our customers” that its “above inflation pay offer” had been rejected.

He added:

“Throughout this extensive negotiation process, we have listened to Unite the Union member feedback and made a number of offers in order to try and settle this dispute, to ensure customers who rely on our services are not affected by strike action.

Unfortunately, rather than work with us to find a resolution, Unite the Union has decided to press ahead with strikes, affecting our customers. Our door remains open to negotiation.”

The company said it will shortly publish details on its website about which services will be affected.

Strike dates confirmed

Unite the Union has confirmed that strike action will take place on the following dates (inclusive):

• Thursday 30 October – Sunday 2 November
• Wednesday 5 November – Saturday 8 November

The union has previously warned that strike action would “shut down” the bus network across South and West Wales.

Background

The dispute has been ongoing for several weeks. Earlier this month, strike action was postponed after a new pay offer was tabled by First Cymru full story here.

Unite has consistently argued that drivers deserve a fairer deal, warning that without improved pay, services and communities would continue to suffer. The union has also said that First Cymru’s drivers are among the lowest paid in the UK bus industry.

Previous coverage:

• Unite: First Cymru strike will shut down bus network across Wales
• First bus strike to cause major disruption across South and West Wales

What happens next

With strike dates now confirmed, passengers across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire face significant disruption.

First Cymru says its “door remains open” to Unite for further talks, but unless an agreement is reached, services will be severely reduced or cancelled during the strike periods.

#busStrike #FirstBus #FirstCymru #industrialAction #payDispute #TradeUnion #Unite #UniteTheUnion #UniteUnion

Swansea University staff among hundreds balloted for strike action over pay

Hundreds of higher education staff across Wales are being balloted for strike action after unions rejected a 1.4 per cent pay offer for 2025/26, which they say amounts to a significant real‑terms cut.

Four institutions affected

Unite confirmed that staff at four Welsh universities, including Swansea University, are being asked to vote on industrial action. The ballot opened on 20 October and runs until 1 December. If successful, strikes could take place in the first half of 2026.

The dispute centres on the pay award imposed by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) on 1 August. With RPI inflation running at 4.6 per cent (August 2025), unions argue the deal leaves staff worse off.

Unions hit out at pay deal

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Our members deserve far better than a real terms pay cut after over a decade of below‑inflation pay rises and when they are faced with a cost of living crisis that is seeing everything but wages going up in price. The employers should be ashamed of treating hard working staff in this way.”

Unite national officer for education Andy Murray added:

“The employers’ offer fails to value our members and makes them bear the cost for the broken funding model in higher education. Unite’s members have been left with no option to ballot for industrial action. Strike action will cripple the sector.”

Staff roles at the heart of the dispute

Unite represents staff in non‑academic roles such as maintenance, libraries, facilities management and administration. The ballot is being coordinated alongside other unions including EIS, UCU and Unison.

Local tensions already running high at Swansea

At Swansea University, the dispute comes against a backdrop of wider unrest. Just weeks ago, staff delivered a vote of no confidence in Vice‑Chancellor Paul Boyle over plans to cut £25 million from the institution’s budget. As Swansea Bay News previously reported, unions warned the proposals would lead to significant job losses and damage to teaching and research.

Years of pay erosion fuel frustration

Unite argues that the latest 1.4 per cent offer is part of a much longer pattern. More than 15 years of below‑inflation pay rises have left higher education wages down by around 30 per cent in real terms since 2010.

Strike action on the horizon

Taken together, the looming ballot, the recent no‑confidence vote, and years of eroded pay highlight a period of deepening tension between university staff and management. With the ballot running until 1 December, the prospect of strike action in early 2026 now looms large over the sector.

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