Members of the Unite union are set to strike over pay at the Sellafield site from today.
Industrial action was planned at the West Cumbria nuclear complex to start from 12.01am today, Monday, September 15, until 11.59pm on Friday September 19.
Picket lines are expected at all gates from 5am to 4pm and Unite wants to hold protest marches – however, discussions are ongoing and no details are available as yet.
The industrial action has been planned by the Unite union for its members covered by the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry and the Construction Industry Joint Council agreements.
It involves contractors involved in civils/construction work on site and covers workers except for apprentices and those in managerial/supervisor and co-ordination roles.
The long running dispute is around the employers at Sellafield refusing to resolve requests for additional Sellafield Specific Allowances.
The requested allowances relate to Unite construction members engaging and constructing on advanced technologies projects, the union said.
It said it had asked for the introduction of a nuclear professional allowance for Unite members who are working in a unique environmental at Sellafield but claimed all requests had been refused by the firms which have contracts on the Sellafield site.
Members of Unite voted for the action last month.
The union said it represented over 1,500 workers on the site.
The workers range from electricians, joiners, pipefitters, riggers, groundworkers, welders and painters and other construction roles.
In the results papers seen by Cumbria Crack, around 1,640 members were eligible to vote and 910 votes were cast, 55.29% of those entitled to vote.
90.40% voted in favour of action – 819 voted yes and 87 voted no.
An indefinite work to rule began on Saturday, August 23.
Sellafield Ltd is warning people not involved in the dispute that the upcoming industrial action may mean disruption getting on to the site.
Impact on site access
Sellafield Ltd has issued the following guidance:
- Calder and Main Gate will be open 24/7, as normal. North Gate, WAMAC and Station Gate will be open from 04.30. Gate opening times may be subject to short-term changes to manage traffic flows and changes will be communicated through the electronic road signs. North Gate will close at 16:30 on all weekdays.
- Cumbria police will have traffic management measures in place between Yottenfews car park and both Main and North gates.
- The road between Blackbeck roundabout and Main Gate may need to be dualled access-only at certain times if necessary to manage traffic flows, but exits will be maintained via North Gate/Calder. Please only move out to a dual lane or overtake under the instruction of a uniformed police officer to ensure traffic flow issues are kept to a minimum.
- If accessing site from the A595 at Calderbridge, be aware that this will only provide access to North Gate and not Main Gate or Yottenfews car park (no right turn to Yottenfews). Access instead via Blackbeck roundabout.
- Some Stagecoach bus services may terminate at Yottenfews rather than Main Gate if required to reduce traffic. A limited bus service will be maintained from Yottenfews through to North Gate and the on-site shuttle service is not affected.
- The morning Risley bus which normally leaves from Yottenfews (Tues/Weds/Thurs) will instead start from Kangol at the time it would have started from Yottenfews.
- Pedestrian turnstiles will remain operational at all gates (access code needed).
- There may be some delays to on-site deliveries.
- Road safety: drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists all need to be extra vigilant and careful as ‘normal’ traffic flows could change. Wearing hi-viz is more important than ever. Drivers have the right to proceed safely past pickets without engaging with them.
- Normal site access arrangements will apply – you will require a valid SOVA to access site and a valid YOVA to access Yottenfews car park before 9am, as per current arrangements.
