Sellafield workers step up strike action

Strike action by workers at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant is being stepped up.

Members of the GMB and Amicus will walk out today over two shifts, halting operations at BNFL's Cumbrian plant.

The unions claim that BNFL has reneged on an agreement to close a £2,000 pay gap between white collar staff and manual workers, a charge the company denies.

The unions said an agreement had been made to harmonise pay by next April, but the company was now insisting the process could not be completed until 2009.

A single shift strike was held last week and further walkouts are planned, although safety cover is being provided.

Brian Strutton, national officer for the GMB, said: "We had hoped that last week's action would have convinced BNFL to meet with us but our calls for meetings have still been met with refusal. We have no choice but to escalate the action until BNFL agrees to talks.

"BNFL made a commitment to the workers and it is time for the company to honour their commitments to the workforce and bring industrial shift pay in line with their white collar counterparts. Ten years is too long to wait."

Amicus said the cost of shutting down the site because of the strikes exceeded the amount the workers were striking over.

Strikes are set to continue every Friday until December 12 if the dispute remains unresolved.