HUNDREDS of Sellafield workers have gone on strike in a health and safety dispute. 

Workers from 16 construction firms based at the nuclear site took part in the three-hour action today (Thursday), and held six-person pickets lines at four of Sellafield’s gates, causing long tailbacks for motorists. 

A number also held a demonstration outside the Main Gate. 

A senior Sellafield-based steward for Unite, which represents the contractors, said the action "had got the point across". He added, however, that the further strikes planned for September 9, 16 and 23 can be avoided if management agrees to a meeting. 

He said: "Today's action could have been avoided. We asked the NAECI contractor group at Sellafield for assurances that we could have a meeting at the end of this week or the start of next and we would have suspended the action. They did not agree before the deadline we had set. 

"However, the offer remains open and, if they commit to a meeting, then next week's action could be avoided. The ball is in their court." 

The row is between workers and their contracting firms and includes those from Focus Scaffolding, PPS Electrical, Hertel, Balfour Beatty, Doosan Babcock and MW Hargreaves. 

The contractors are asking for a full-time union convenor on site and their own health and safety committee. However, the NAECI contractor group says its current system is successful and has no plans to alter it.