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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nuclear workers in strike threat | Nuclear workers in strike threat |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Workers at Sellafield nuclear plant are threatening industrial action in a dispute over pay. | Workers at Sellafield nuclear plant are threatening industrial action in a dispute over pay. |
| They are unhappy with a 2% pay increase offer and are due to be balloted on strike action, the union Prospect said. | They are unhappy with a 2% pay increase offer and are due to be balloted on strike action, the union Prospect said. |
| But officials stressed they did not blame the plant's management for the pay offer and said it was the fault of the government for "tying their hands." | But officials stressed they did not blame the plant's management for the pay offer and said it was the fault of the government for "tying their hands." |
| Managers at Sellafield said they were prepared to negotiate further and are offering a new pay incentive scheme. | Managers at Sellafield said they were prepared to negotiate further and are offering a new pay incentive scheme. |
| Union representative, Mike Graham, said there had not been any Prospect industrial action at the plant for 19 years and that a strike would be the "last resort". | Union representative, Mike Graham, said there had not been any Prospect industrial action at the plant for 19 years and that a strike would be the "last resort". |
| 'Brilliant job' | |
| He said: "We want a fair pay offer but talks are currently at an impasse. | He said: "We want a fair pay offer but talks are currently at an impasse. |
| "I don't want to criticise the management team at Sellafield, they have done a brilliant job in difficult circumstances over the years, and I believe their hands have been tied by the government. | "I don't want to criticise the management team at Sellafield, they have done a brilliant job in difficult circumstances over the years, and I believe their hands have been tied by the government. |
| "We don't want to have to take action, but sometimes you have no choice, but action will be the last thing we look at." | "We don't want to have to take action, but sometimes you have no choice, but action will be the last thing we look at." |
| A statement from Sellafield management said: "The company offered an increase in salaries of 2% and the opportunity to earn a further incentive bonus of up to 2% of salary funded by efficiency improvements. | A statement from Sellafield management said: "The company offered an increase in salaries of 2% and the opportunity to earn a further incentive bonus of up to 2% of salary funded by efficiency improvements. |
| "We made it clear that we are prepared to negotiate further on the details of this incentive scheme. | "We made it clear that we are prepared to negotiate further on the details of this incentive scheme. |
| "Our offer is intended to help increase the efficiency of the business which is a necessary step towards securing our long-term future. | "Our offer is intended to help increase the efficiency of the business which is a necessary step towards securing our long-term future. |
| "The offer is in line with the government's recently published public sector pay guidelines." | "The offer is in line with the government's recently published public sector pay guidelines." |