Nuclear workers in Cheshire vote to strike

Urenco workers have voted for industrial action

Nuclear workers have voted to strike over pay.

The GMB union said around 500 staff at the Urenco nuclear site in Capenhurst, Cheshire, backed industrial action after talks broke down.

Albie McGuigan, GMB Organiser, said workers were "understandably angry", and that staff were now five months beyond the date they should have had a pay rise.

Civil nuclear industry supplier Urenco said it was "disappointed that negotiations... have not managed to result in an agreement on pay".

Mr McGuigan said workers at the site had "rejected the employer’s full and final offer and have now voted to take strike action".

A Urenco representative said the vote to take industrial action followed "the rejection of a 5.2% pay increase offer which represented December’s RPI".

"In addition, employees received a 12.6% increase last year," they said.

They said operational staff would "continue to monitor the plants during any industrial action, as part of their contractual agreement".

"Safety and security of the site will be maintained and we are confident that all commitments to our customers will be met," they added.

"Negotiations are continuing with the trade unions to resolve the situation and bring it to an amicable close."