Sellafield nuclear plant workers strike over pay dispute

The company said the action would not impact on safety and the site would operate as normal

Hundreds of staff at Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria have gone on strike in a dispute over work pay.

About 400 health physics monitors, who carry out manual radiation checks on staff and equipment, are taking part in the one-day stoppage.

The GMB union said workers had been "forced into the situation" after management reneged a pay rise deal.

Sellafield Ltd said its position was clear and there had been a "fundamental difference" of understanding.

Roger Denwood from GMB, said: "The monitors are very, very angry.

"The company keeps saying they stand by that evaluation, but they believe it is only for a few monitors and that is fundamentally flawed."

'Fair recompense'

Sellafield stakeholder relations director, Rory O'Neill, said the company disagrees there should be a "blanket" increase.

He said the principle that some of those individuals are entitled to further reward is "not in contention" - the dispute lies in the "interpretation of the criteria" for further payment.

"We are always happy to talk around this issue and negotiations with GMB have been going on for a considerable period of time.

"We think our position is fair... they have just received a 2.2% pay rise - we think that most people would look at that and think that's a fair recompense," Mr O'Neill said.

The company said the action would not impact on safety and the site would operate as normal.

Sellafield employs about 10,000 people and reprocesses and stores spent nuclear fuel from around the world.