Hundreds of steelworkers are to go on strike over proposals to close the Port Talbot blast furnace.
unity The union announced the results of the strike vote on Thursday, but a strike date has not yet been set.
About 1,500 workers in Port Talbot and Newport voted to strike.
It will be the first strike by Port Talbot steelworkers in more than four decades.
Thousands of jobs could be lost in the South Wales towns should Tata Steel companies continue to make proposals to close two blast furnaces.
Unions have warned that up to 2,800 jobs in total could be lost if Tata’s plans go ahead.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the result as a “historic vote”.
She added: “United will be at the forefront of the fight to save the Welsh steel industry.”
“We will do whatever we can to support steel.”
“Competitive and greener”
The proposals were formally confirmed in January, Tata boss TV Narendran told MPs The decision is “almost” a foregone conclusion.
Tata said the move would mark the start of a new way of making steel that is “competitive and more environmentally friendly”.
But Port Talbot is concerned about its impact on the local economy, with the factory’s workforce currently making up 12 per cent of the town’s population.
Unite believes other European countries are transitioning to ensure a “bright future” for the steel industry.
Blast furnaces at a Tata plant in the Netherlands are said to have been kept open, while a German plant produces more steel than the entire British steel industry.
Peter Hughes, regional secretary of United Wales, said its members “will not stand idly by because they feel threatened”.
He added: “Our members have the overwhelming support of their unions in striking to stop these cuts – Unite will support them every step of the way.”
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A Tata Steel spokesman said the company was “naturally disappointed” with the decision.
The spokesman added that Tata was in consultation with unions over its proposals.
They said consultations “continue in an open, collaborative and constructive manner”.
The company said it had written to Unite twice during the voting process to “inform them of significant irregularities in the voting process”.
The spokesperson added: “While the £1.25 billion commitment with the UK government will ensure a viable long-term future for low CO2 steelmaking in the UK, our current operations are unsustainable, costing more than £1 million a day.”
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