LONDON (Reuters) -Tata Steel will take steps to cease operations at its plant in Port Talbot, Wales, by July 7, earlier than planned, because of a scheduled strike, PA Media reported on Thursday.

Tata did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report, which cited workers who had been told of the plans.

Trade union Unite said last week that around 1,500 workers would begin an indefinite strike from July 8 over Tata's plans to close two blast furnaces and cut up to 2,800 jobs.

The closures were announced in January as part of the Indian company's plan to turn around its loss-making UK business by switching to lower carbon electric arc furnaces, a proposal backed by 500 million pounds ($632 million) of government money.