Unite stated that this strike, occurring at Tata's Port Talbot and Llanwern locations in Wales, will be the first strike action by British steelworkers in four decades.

The closure plans, unveiled in January, are part of Tata's strategy to revitalize its struggling UK operations by transitioning to lower carbon electric arc furnaces. This plan is supported by £500 million ($632 million) in government funding, the Reuters report said.

"Tata’s workers are not just fighting for their jobs - they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales," Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Tata Steel has over 8,000 employees in the UK.

The company announced in January that approximately 2,500 of the total job cuts are expected to occur over the next 18 months.