The prospect of a strike across Tata Steel's UK operations has gained further traction after a key union secured support for industrial action.

Community, which has more than 3,000 members, said 85% voted in favour of fighting the India-owned company's plans for up to 2,800 job losses, the majority of them at the country's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales. Tata confirmed last month it was to press ahead with the closure of the blast furnaces at the plant, replacing them with electric arc furnaces to reduce emissions and costs.

In doing so, the company rejected an alternative plan put forward by the Community, GMB and Unite unions that, they said, would raise productivity and protect jobs across the supply chain. They argued that Tata's proposals would rid the UK economy of its last remaining "virgin" steelmaking facility and commit thousands of jobs to the scrap heap for no reason.

Members of Unite had already backed the prospect of industrial action. Alun Davies, national officer for steel at Community, said of its vote: "Today our members delivered their verdict on Tata Steel's job cuts plan, and they have voted to demand a better deal for the workforce.

"Community balloted more than 3,000 members across all Tata Steel UK production sites, and more than 85% have voted for industrial action. "It should be noted this resounding mandate has been delivered in spite of the company's bullying and unacceptable threats to slash redundancy payments.

"We will now be consulting our members on next steps, and we urge Tata to reconsider their position and get back around the table to head off a major industrial dispute." A Tata spokesperson responded: "Following the announcement in January of the company's plans to invest £1.25bn and to restructure the UK business, we started a formal information sharing and consultation process with our Trades Union colleagues, which continues in an open, collaborative and constructive fashion. "On 22 March, we put forward a significantly enhanced, comprehensive package of support for employees impacted by the proposed transformation, which we have further added to this week - a commitment of £200m.

"We are naturally disappointed that while consultation continues, some Community Union members across Tata Steel UK have indicated that they would be prepared to take industrial action up to and including strike action if an agreement cannot be reached on a way forward for the business and its employees. "While the £1.25bn commitment with the UK government will ensure a long-term viable future for low-CO2 steelmaking in the UK, our current business is unsustainable, reporting losses of more than £1m a day.".