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Why 5,000 nuclear workers in Cumbria could be on the verge of striking

As many as 5,000 nuclear employees at Cumbria’s Sellafield site could soon find themselves taking strike action, after workers’ trade unions GMB and Unite announced plans to ballot their members.

Today owned by Sellafield ltd, Sellafield is a nuclear fuel reprocessing and decommissioning site which sits close to the village of Seascale, on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria.

GMB, which is balloting 3,000 members whilst Unite is balloting 2,000 of its members, says it has had ‘little alternative’ than to raise the option to strike as a response to an insufficient pay offering.

Government-owned business Sellafield ltd, formed out of the remains of British Nuclear Group, offered a 1.5% increase in June which was rejected by 88% of GMB members.

The union says it is taking action as the offer sits below inflation, whilst further approaches to consort with Sellafield ltd have been rebuked.

The strike ballot begins on Monday, 14th August 2017 and will close on Monday, 4th September 2017.

Chris Jukes, GMB Senior Organiser, said: “GMB members at Sellafield Ltd understandably voted by 9 to 1 to reject the company’s pay offer which was less than half the RPI inflation rate.

“GMB’s repeated requests for further talks have been ignored and the company has instead said it will impose its below inflation pay rise.

“With Sellafield refusing to meet us, GMB has little alternative than to ask our members if they wish to take strike action to achieve a fair pay offer.

“Last year, Sellafield workers received just 0.25% extra in their pay packets, this year’s offer of 1.5% is way below inflation again and would mean that yet another real terms pay cut for our hardworking Sellafield members after inflation has been taken into account.

“Members are also already looking at an increase of between 2 to 6% in their pension contributions, so this would be a double-hit on their living standards.”

N.B. Sellafield ltd has been contacted by Bdaily Editor Jamie Hardesty for a response.

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