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Sellafield Heads for Meltdown

28 August 2015 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

Two strikes rock the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria as members of Unite and GMB come out against management decisions.

The simmering disputes that have bedevilled industrial relations at the Sellafield nuclear power station erupted this week with both Unite and the GMB calling for walkouts.

As far as Unite is concerned, its action means that workers from nine sub-contracting companies will be staging a ‘wave’ of industrial action in the escalating dispute at Sellafield in Cumbria to improve what it states are matters concerning health and safety and productivity.

Construction workers involved in the decommissioning and renewal project at the site are ‘angry’ at the alleged refusal by Sellafield Ltd and the 14-strong group of sub-contractor companies to facilitate a full-time union convener on the site.

Members of Unite, working for Balfour Beatty Engineering Construction Services, Cape Industrial Services, Focus Scaffolding, Hertel UK, Interservice Industrial Services, Jacobs Stobbarts, Meldrum Ltd, Mitie Facilities Services (also known as OneFM) and PPS Electrical, will be imposing an overtime ban and working to rule from Thursday 27 August.  

Workers at all the companies, except Balfour Beatty, will also be striking between 05:30 and 08:00 on 1, 9 and 16 September followed by a 24-hour stoppage starting at 00:01 on 23 September.

Ballots are also being held at four other sub-contractors – Amec Foster Wheeler, Doosan Babcock, Hargreaves and PC Richardson & Co for industrial action on the health and safety issues. The ballots close on today, Wednesday, 26 August.

“The bully boy tactics by the sub-contractors are still continuing as our members raise legitimate concerns about health and safety,” complained Mick Whitley, Regional Secretary for the North West, Unite. “Unite has repeatedly called for meaningful talks but they have been rebuffed at every stage, and our members have no alternative but to take industrial action, including a day’s strike on 23 September.

This week has also seen the GMB decide to take industrial action in a dispute that goes back 18 months surrounding 400 members who act as health monitors. Strike action started on Tuesday, 25 August and will continue to this Friday in a pay dispute. There is also the allegation that the management has been attempting to derecognise the GMB by changing the grading of the monitors.

Sellafield employs approximately 10,000 people at the Cumbria site.

Picture: This week has seen industrial action by Unite and the GMB at Sellafield nuclear power facility with both disputes a consequence of long running differences between the management and unions

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 28 August 2015

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