Strike action by civil engineering workers at Sellafield has been called off as talks have been agreed between union Unite and employer DSD Construction.

Negotiations aims at resolving a dispute over the treatment of a trade union rep will take place on Thursday, 25 January.

The dispute centres around workers disagreeing with the treatment of shop steward James Bainbridge, who Unite say within 24 hours of being elected was relocated from the Sellafield site to DSD's Carlisle depot, 40 miles away.

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The union intervened and Mr Bainbridge returned to work at Sellafield. However, he was suspended and dismissed after raising a collective grievance to management on behalf of members. The grievance concerned; working in the rain, the supply of inadequate and substandard personal protective equipment (PPE) and uniforms and making weekend work available to all workers.

Unite regional officer Ryan Armstrong said the union has called off an initial strike scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 23 January to allow talks to take place.

"DSD must table solutions to end this dispute and to reinstate the Unite shop steward," he said.

"If this dispute is not resolved through negotiations then there will be strikes in early February which will cause disruption throughout the Sellafield complex."

Unite warned if talks do not bring a resolution to the dispute, remaining strikes scheduled to begin on Thursday, 01 February and Wednesday, 07 February will go ahead.

(LM)