Sellafield strike called off

A planned strike by workers at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant was called off today so that further talks aimed at resolving a pay dispute can be held.

Workers at the British Nuclear Fuels site in Cumbria were due to walk out tomorrow in the latest in a series of stoppages which has hit production at the plant.

But union leaders announced that following talks at the conciliation service Acas last night, the strike had been suspended.

Fresh talks will be held next week, when the GMB and Amicus expect an improved offer to be tabled.

Unions have accused the company of reneging on a deal to close a £2,000-a-year (€2,800) pay gap between manual workers and white collar staff, a charge BNFL denies.