A number of firms which have contracts at the Sellafield site have been forced to lay off workers temporarily.
The Engineering Construction Industry Association confirmed that the firms were working on projects affected by industrial action taken by Unite members at the site.
An association spokesman said: “Some of our member companies working on projects affected by Unite’s industrial action at Sellafield, have been compelled to temporarily lay off some of their employees, owing to a shortage of work.
“They are disappointed to have to take this decision. All reasonable steps have been taken to avoid this outcome.
“We sincerely hope these valued individuals can return to work soon.”
Members of the Unite union began industrial action on September 15 at the West Cumbrian nuclear complex.
The workers, employed by sub-contracting firms, are demanding site-specific pay for working in a nuclear environment.
They claim other workers at other sites are given the extra allowance.
In a statement seen by Cumbria Crack, the union has launched a broadside at the firms forced to lay people off, the Engineering Construction Association and Sellafield Ltd.
It claimed the lay-offs were a cynical ploy in the run-up to Christmas and added: “The workers now being targeted are the very people who kept this site running through every storm, every crisis, every emergency.
“And now, because they have stood up and taken lawful industrial action, they are being treated as disposable.”
It claimed Sellafield Ltd had “signed off” the lay-offs and the association had “inserted itself into matters far outside its remit”.
Sellafield Ltd, which runs the site, is not involved in the dispute. It is a pay dispute between individual employers on the site and their staff.
A Sellafield Ltd spokesman said: “We can confirm the affected employers have shared their plans with us. While regrettable, we understand the reasons behind them.”
Industrial action is continuing this week and is scheduled to run from next Monday, December 15 for another week.
The industrial action is covered by conditions from Cumbria police under the Public Order Act.
Marches must not start before 7am and conclude by 10am.
Any marches from Calder Bridge to North Gate must start after the turn-off to Sella Park Hotel so that their business access can be maintained.
Previously, marches had been taking up to six hours as striking workers walked really slowly – dubbed the Sellafield shuffle.
Cumbria Crack has asked Unite about the progress in pay discussions, but last week a Unite spokesman declined to comment, adding ‘I don’t think we have anything further to say at this point.”
In its statement, it said: “Unite has made clear, repeatedly and publicly, that we are willing to use ACAS at any point if the employers genuinely wish to resolve the dispute. That offer has been on the table from day one.”
However, it claimed that the employers have refused to involve ACAS, although Cumbria Crack could not verify this claim.
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.
It has not been revealed which of the firms have laid off their staff. Unite does name them in its statement but Cumbria Crack could not verify the companies involved.
Cumbria Crack has asked Unite for a full update about the industrial action and what it plans to do next. A spokesman said he would be in touch with us today, Wednesday December 10.
More to follow…..
