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.

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"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)