Tata Steel announced in January that it would end primary steel manufacturing at Port Talbot. The town is known for its two giant blast furnaces and a large steel mill that has provided employment for decades. George McDonagh went there to see people's reactions. He met Gareth Edwards, who had worked there for 30 years and was worried about the potential loss of thousands of jobs.
Tata said the site was losing £1m a day and needed to change to a more environmentally friendly electric furnace, which turns scrap metal into new steel. But there were fears in Port Talbot that this meant it would suffer the same fate as other steel towns that fell into decline after the closure of the furnaces.
As the industrial action began in early summer, McDonough returned to town to discuss the fight to save jobs with union members and workers. He learned about the union's plans to slow the pace of change. But as the years passed, he returned to hear stories of his disappointment when his plans were rejected and the furnace finally closed in the fall. He spoke to Edwards again in the winter, as the town settled down and began to embrace its new future. Along with his sadness and resignation, he found a stubborn hope that there was a new green job opportunity that could bring the town back to life once again.
