Thousands of workers at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria are to go on strike later this month in a dispute over pay.

Around 3,000 members of the GMB Union 'voted overwhelmingly' for industrial action after reacting angrily to Sellafield Management offering a 1.5% pay increase.

The 24-hour strike will take place from 6.01am on Wednesday, 27 September and finish at 5.59am on Thursday, 28 September.

2,000 members of union Unite will also be balloted over taking industrial action from Wednesday, 13 October.

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Chris Jukes GMB Senior Organiser said the union has made "repeated requests" to engage in talks with management, but"it is clear that Sellafield seem intent on being intransigent and petulant as usual in their attitude to dispute resolution".

"No one likes to take strike action but GMB members have been given a pay cut, on top of a 0.25% increase last year and their pay has failed to keep up with rising prices," he said.

"Like everyone else, GMB members have bills to pay. Meanwhile those at the top seem more interested in their big performance bonuses, as the gulf between them and those working on the shop floor at Sellafield gets ever wider.

"Clearly GMB members have signalled that they have had enough."

(LM)