Steel workers hold talks with Blair

The majority of the job losses will be at plants in Wales

Steel union leaders in Wales have begun talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair about plans by Corus to lay-off 6,000 jobs.

Mr Blair agreed to meet officials of all the main unions during his visit to Swansea on Friday for the Welsh Labour conference.

The unions have submitted proposals to the Anglo-Dutch company, which includes plans for retraining workers.

Blair :appealed to Corus to reconsider cuts

Mr Blair is to be updated on the rescue plan, which is still being fine-tuned.

Later in the day, he is expected to meet Welsh Assembly members to discuss the proposed job cuts.

Wales would bare the brunt of the 6,050 job losses announced by the Anglo-Dutch company in February.

It is very valuable to have this opportunity to speak to Tony Blair directly about the impact of the crisis

John Griffiths AM

Mr Blair has appealed to Corus to reconsider the cuts and the company has agreed to look at alternative proposals.

Corus is now going ahead with a statutory 90-day consultation process.

One of those due to meet the Prime Minister is Newport East Assembly Member John Griffiths - whose constituency includes the Llanwern plant, which stands to lose 1,300 jobs.

"It is very valuable to have this opportunity to speak to Tony Blair directly about the impact of the crisis on the communities around Llanwern," he said.

"From the moment that Corus first suggested its cuts, the British government, the Welsh Assembly and the trade unions have been making strenuous efforts to avert what could become a catastrophe for the Welsh economy."