GMB to ballot 3,000 Sellafield nuclear workers for strike action over below inflation pay offer
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With Sellafield refusing to meet us, GMB has little alternative than to ask our members if they wish to take strike action to achieve a fair pay offer says GMB.
GMB, the union for nuclear workers, is balloting 3,000 members at the Sellafield site in Cumbria for strike action after the company ignored repeated requests for further talks and said instead it would impose a below-inflation pay offer.
The strike ballot begins on Monday, 14th August 2017 and will close on Monday, 4th September 2017.
The Unite union is also balloting its 2,000 members at Sellafield.
Sellafield Ltd offered 1.5% in June which was rejected by 88% of GMB members on site during a consultative ballot.
Since then, GMB has sought further talks with the company without success.
The RPI inflation rate is currently 3.5%. Last year Sellafield workers received just 0.25% extra pay against annual RPI inflation for 2016 of 1.8%.
As part of government led changes to the pensions of nuclear workers, two thirds of Sellafield workers will also have to pay an extra 2 to 6% on their pensions contributions from next year.
Chris Jukes, GMB Senior Organiser, said:
“GMB members at Sellafield Ltd understandably voted by 9 to 1 to reject the company's pay offer which was less than half the RPI inflation rate.
“GMB's repeated requests for further talks have been ignored and the company has instead said it will impose its below inflation pay rise.
“With Sellafield refusing to meet us, GMB has little alternative than to ask our members if they wish to take strike action to achieve a fair pay offer.
"Last year, Sellafield workers received just 0.25% extra in their pay packets, this year's offer of 1.5% is way below inflation again and would mean that yet another real terms pay cut for our hardworking Sellafield members after inflation has been taken into account.
“Members are also already looking at an increase of between 2 to 6% in their pension contributions, so this would be a double-hit on their living standards.”
