Second union votes for strike action at nuclear site

Almost all workers at Dounreay have now backed industrial action over their pay

Workers from a second union at Scotland's oldest nuclear power complex have voted for strike action in a dispute over pay.

Unite, which represents 460 workers at Dounreay, near Thurso, said its ballot had an 82% turnout.

On Thursday, the GMB said 85% of its 450 members had backed industrial action.

Dounreay's operator, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), said it was disappointed by the result of the votes. The site employs about 1,200 people.

Dounreay on the north Caithness coast dates to the 1950s and was the site of Scotland's first operational nuclear reactor - the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor - which achieved criticality in 1958.

The complex is now being decommissioned.

A third union - Prospect - has also been balloting its members on industrial action.

Unite and GMB members have voted to reject a 4.5% offer backdated to April 2023.

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said: "The Dounreay workforce have overwhelmingly backed industrial action because NRS has repeatedly failed to make them a fair pay offer.

"At the same time, the company has found the time to feather the nests of its directors.

"Unless NRS quickly gets back around the negotiating table to make our members an offer they deserve, then industrial action will be inevitable."

An NRS spokesman said: "We are disappointed by the result and remain committed to working with the unions to find a resolution that is fair and affordable.

"While we hope industrial action can be avoided, we will now implement contingency plans to ensure minimum staffing levels are in place to maintain safety, security and environmental protection during any period of disruption."