by Keith Richmond

Steel workers in Redcar are hoping that the decision by Corus to individually sue foreign executives of Marcegaglia, Dongkuk, Ternium and Duferco for tens of millions of pounds in damages for walking away from a 10-year deal with the firm – and throwing 2,000 people out of work – will bring them back to the negotiating table.

Corus said it would have to mothball Teesside Cast Products after the decision by the consortium to terminate the deal, which accounts for 80 per cent of the output of the plant, after just five years.

Both the company and the union Community are determined to persuade the consortium to honour the contract.