Third strike hits Sellafield

Both sides say safety will not be affected during the strikes

Hundreds of workers at the Sellafield nuclear processing plant are staging their third walk-out in a dispute over pay.

The strike will halt all reprocessing work at the Cumbria complex on Thursday.

British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) has offered arbitration talks over the shift pay row.

About 350 members of the GMB and Amicus unions are involved in the stoppage.

The unions accuse BNFL of reneging on an agreement to close a £2,000 pay gap between white collar and manual workers, a charge the company has denied.

Unions will recommend to their members on Monday that a strike planned for 5 December should be rescheduled while Acas acts as mediator.

Negotiated settlement

Dougie Rooney, from Amicus, said: "This represents progress and we hope the involvement of Acas conciliation officers can resolve the dispute.

"The trade unions will certainly make themselves available at the earliest opportunity to attempt to meet with Acas and the company."

Brian Strutton, from the GMB, added: "Our clear objective has always been to negotiate a settlement to the dispute and Acas conciliation will help achieve it.

"The GMB is therefore recommending this to our members as the sensible way forward to finally resolve this issue which has dragged on far too long."

Mr Strutton said if union members agreed to the proposal, next Friday's strike would be suspended as a "gesture of goodwill".

'Positive response'

A BNFL spokesman said: "We can confirm that the company and the GMB and Amicus unions have held discussions over the last week and that BNFL management has made proposals to the unions to resolve the dispute through arbitration involving Acas.

"The management is pleased to report that the unions have agreed to consider these proposals.

"The unions will hold a meeting with shop stewards on Monday to discuss the proposals, and respond to the management.

"Sellafield management is hopeful of a positive response that will allow further talks to get underway.

"A positive response would also mean that major plants could return to normal operations from Tuesday onwards."

Both sides have said safety at the plant will not be affected by the strike action.