There has been major disruption for drivers this morning as workers continue their strike action outside the Sellafield site in West Cumbria.
Industrial action began on Monday by members of the Unite union who work for sub-contractors at the nuclear complex.
An overtime ban is in place and it is the third round of strike action by workers.
The workers are demanding site-specific allowances, which they claim are paid at other nuclear sites.
The union says the workers, covered by the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry and the Construction Industry Joint Council agreements, should be paid the allowance because they work in a highly hazardous environment.
It said that this latest industrial action, which will run until November 2, would involve workers from six sub-contractors – Altrad, Enigma, ES Steel, Kaefer Ltd, Meldrum Ltd and PPS Electrical.
While the picket lines outside the site have not disrupted other workers so far, today has seen the worst disruption so far, Cumbria Crack has been told.
We were contacted by a worker who had been sitting in a traffic queue for around three hours so far today trying to get on to the site.
He said strikers were sitting in camping chairs in the middle of the road.
He added: “It’s ridiculous and I worry about those people with medical conditions. It’s also simple things like going to the toilet – there’s nowhere to go and you’re just stuck.”
Cumbria police will manage likely traffic disruption from the A595 and Yottenfews car park, Sellafield Ltd said, and drones will be deployed to monitor traffic.
Workers last walked out at the beginning of this month and caused misery for thousands of commuters and people living near the area as they employed slow march tactics.
Dubbed the Sellafield shuffle, it saw them take around five hours to complete each day, holding up traffic and causing long delays.
Sellafield Ltd, which runs the site but is not involved in the dispute, has issued guidance for its staff and other workers on the site not involved in the industrial action.
It said:
- We may change gate opening times to help traffic flows. We’ll update the electronic road signs with any changes.
- Cumbria police will manage traffic disruption from the A595 and Yottenfews car park.
- As during the previous strike action, the Risley coach will depart from Kangol car park rather than Yottenfews. Pick-up times remain the same.
- Pedestrian turnstiles will remain operational at all site 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-vis is more important than ever. Drivers have the right to proceed safely past pickets without engaging with them.
- Normal Sellafield site access arrangements will apply – you will require a valid SOVA to access the Sellafield site.
- Normal arrangements apply for Yottenfews car park. It can be used by anyone with YOVAs or SOVAs.
- Colleagues are encouraged to make use of the Yottenfews car park where possible, and walk on to site, as this will assist in reducing local traffic congestion and improving journey times onto site.
- Some B111 training courses have changed location – the attendees of those courses have been contacted directly.
- Pass office: Opening hours will be later than usual during the industrial action (10.30am to 2.30pm).
- Toilets are available for those coming in to work, at Yottenfews (security office) and all gate houses.
It has urged managers to enable teams to work from elsewhere if possible and asked people to car share or use public transport where possible.
Unite said the companies involved in the dispute were Altrad Services; Amentum Clean Energy; Amentum Enterprise Asset Solutions; AVRS Systems; Balfour Beatty; Careys; DSD; Design Grid; Enigma; Erith; ES Steel Ltd; Flannery; Impwood; Kaefer; Keltbray; Kier; LEL Nuclear; Mammoet; Meldrum; Mitie FM Ltd; Mitie Ltd; Morgan Sindall; NG Bailey; NRL; Nuvia; PC Richardson; PPS Electrical; Rhodar; Shepley; Sir Robert McAlpine; VGC Group; William King; G&M Lawson Ltd; Athena; Stobbarts Ltd and FB Taylor (Cable Contractors) Ltd.
The union said the latest round of industrial action was being taken over a lack of progress in talks.
Cumbria Crack asked, on October 15, when the union last had face-to-face negotiations with the contract firms it was in dispute with.
Unite told us in response: “Unite have always been open to negotiations, we have highlighted that ACAS could be the vehicle if the employer wish to introduce them.”
Sellafield Ltd said: “The industrial action taking place at Sellafield is the result of a pay dispute between some Unite union members and their employers.
“As the people involved are not employed by Sellafield Ltd this is not a dispute that we can resolve.
“Our priority, as always, is to maintain the safety and security of the Sellafield site.
“We have provided guidance to our employees who may be impacted in travelling to the site during the action.
“We will also continue to support Cumbria police as they work to minimise the impact of the action on the local road network.”
The last round of strike action inspired a song and you can hear it below.
WARNING! It contains very strong language:
