EXCLUSIVEBy Alan Irving

Last updated 10:57, Thursday, 04 September 2008

CRAFT workers at Sellafield have voted to take industrial action which they say could be effective enough to shut down the site.

Members of Unite, which includes both industrial and staff grade members, are poised to either go on strike or take other forms of action over the company’s pay offer.

Alan Westnedge, Unite’s Whitehaven-based full-time regional organiser, said: “At this stage we are looking at all forms of action but it would not be out of the question for our members to be able to close down the Sellafield site.

“The ballot percentages show that we have got a clear mandate with the people who have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action.”

Asked whether Unite could go it alone with action resulting in the closure of plants, the former Sellafield convenor said: “It’s not something we want to do, but we have a mandate from our members. There wouldn’t be a problem of doing it alone but I am confident that the GMB will vote in a similar fashion to Unite members.

“The feeling is out there that people feel insulted by the offer and they do want to do something about it.

“We have a mandate not just from our blue collar but also our white collar members similar to those in Prospect. It is not a foregone conclusion that the Prospect staff will be in favour of accepting two per cent.

“Industrial action is always a last resort and we are now calling on Sellafield management to reconsider their offer, come back round the table with us and try and resolve the issue before we do get to industrial action.

“The present offer is behind most of the other companies in the nuclear sector, and why they insist on treating the Sellafield employees in such a way, keeping the level of the offer so low, I don’t know.

“Any industrial action is serious. We don’t take it lightly, which is why we are asking the company to reconsider.

“We will be asking them to enter into safety cover if and when this action takes place.”

Unite has two separate sections, one for industrial craft workers and another for others such as foremen who are in a small staff group.

Eighty-eight per cent of the industrials voted for a strike and 96 per cent in favour of industrial action short of a strike. The staff section vote is 72 per cent (strike) and 85 per cent (other industrial action).

Unite has 1,132 Sellafield members.

“It concerns us that the Nuclear Management Partners [the incoming parent body organisation] are not having an input into this... it’s a bit of shame that the existing management, which will only be in for the next few months, will be leaving this for them to inherit.”

Asked about Prospect’s recommendation for 4,000-plus staff to accept the pay deal, Alan Westnedge said: “What must be borne in mind is that both their members and ours overwhelmingly reject the company’s offer by an excess of 90 per cent.

“I don’t see an improved offer, the money has been dressed up in different ways, our members aren’t there to be conned. They can see through it and we have to look out the long-term interests of our members as well as those of the site. Accepting a three per cent, below-inflation offer at this time would send the wrong signals to the new parent body company.”

The result of the GMB ballot is due on Monday. Site convenor Peter Kane said he was confident of an industrial action vote. Prospect, which is recommending acceptance of the pay offer, expects to have a result on September 15. Peter Clements, site official, said: “The alternative is to take industrial action which would damage employment and investment opportunities.”

A Sellafield spokesman said: “We have been made aware of the numbers, but at this stage we have not been informed of any intent on behalf of the union.

“Whether or not the numbers constitute a clear mandate for industrial action is something which is very much a matter for interpretation. It may be true that 664 industrial workers who are members of Unite have voted in favour of taking strike action – but Unite report their own membership to be over 1,100 industrial workers, and Sellafield Ltd employs over 10,000 people.

“We do not wish to make a snap reaction to the numbers, as both the GMB and Prospect ballots are ongoing, and we would like to hear the results of those ballots.

“We would like to reiterate that safety remains our number one priority, and that the company is committed to finding a resolution through negotiation. However, the fact remains that there is no more money available – the offer we have made to the workforce is the best we can make.

“This is a crucial time for the company, as we aim to play a key role in the national nuclear renaissance, and, as has been said before, we do not believe that a strike would be in anyone’s interest.”