ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the industry as it was organized prior to renationalization and discusses the structure of the industry and trends in output and investment. It provides some background on labour force trends and industrial relations respectively. In the Standard Industrial Classification of 1958, the iron and steel industry comprises two minimum list headings: 311 and 312. The industry comprises three main production operations: the making of iron, the production of crude steel from iron and scrap and the shaping of crude steel into a wide range of semi-finished and finished products. The marked peak of expenditure as a whole in 1960–1962 presents an interesting example of the bunching of investment projects which is characteristic of the industry. The industry is one which has a well-established interest and organizational framework for research and development. The trade union situation in the industry is obviously complex, with eighteen unions being represented.
