Thousands of workers at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant are set to take industrial action in a dispute over pay.

More than 90% of Unite the Union's 1,100 members have voted to strike after management imposed what Unite called a 'completely unacceptable' 1.5% pay award from last month, backdated to 01 April.

In September, thousands of GMB Union members also began taking industrial action.

Unite regional officer Graham Williams said: "This impending strike action follows on from Sellafield Ltd  imposing on our members a pay rise well below the retail price index (RPI) rate of inflation which is presently running at 3.9 per cent.


"This means the workforce will actually see another effective pay cut after last year’s insulting 0.25 per cent offer.

"To date, the Sellafield workforce has delivered over £230 million  savings in the last two years and is expected to make a further £300 million in savings this year.

"The management now needs to come to the table and negotiate in a constructive manner, otherwise industrial action by the Sellafield unions will ratchet up further and bring the site’s operations to a halt."

Unite said it will inform Sellafield management about the dates of the first walkout in the near future.

(LM)