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Copeland byelection boost for Tories as Sellafield union rules out strike Copeland byelection boost for Tories as Sellafield union rules out strike
(35 minutes later)
The Conservatives’ campaign in Copeland, the byelection described as “Theresa May’s to lose”, has received a big boost after the largest trade union representing workers at the Sellafield nuclear power station said it would not strike before voters go to the polls on 23 February.The Conservatives’ campaign in Copeland, the byelection described as “Theresa May’s to lose”, has received a big boost after the largest trade union representing workers at the Sellafield nuclear power station said it would not strike before voters go to the polls on 23 February.
The Conservatives’ plans to fight the election – triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Jamie Reed – on a pro-nuclear platform were thrown into jeopardy in December, when union leaders said “serious industrial unrest” by the 10,000 workers could not be ruled out amid a dispute over government plans to downgrade the final-salary pension scheme for employees of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which runs Sellafield.The Conservatives’ plans to fight the election – triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Jamie Reed – on a pro-nuclear platform were thrown into jeopardy in December, when union leaders said “serious industrial unrest” by the 10,000 workers could not be ruled out amid a dispute over government plans to downgrade the final-salary pension scheme for employees of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which runs Sellafield.
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said last month the plans were “daylight robbery” and admitted that he was “not optimistic” that strike action could be avoided. But after a series of productive talks with ministers, Prospect, the union that represents more than 5,000 Sellafield workers and a majority of all workers on site, has said it will not take industrial action before voters go to the polls in the West Cumbrian constituency. Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said last month that the plans were “daylight robbery” and admitted that he was “not optimistic” that strike action could be avoided. But after a series of productive talks with ministers, Prospect, the union that represents more than 5,000 Sellafield workers and a majority of all workers on site, has said it will not take industrial action before voters go to the polls in the West Cumbrian constituency.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been repeatedly attacked by Conservative campaigners over his ambiguous stance on the nuclear industry, which supports tens of thousands of jobs locally. Activists had hoped the prospect of the government downgrading employees’ final-salary pension scheme would, at least in part, neutralise Tory attacks.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been repeatedly attacked by Conservative campaigners over his ambiguous stance on the nuclear industry, which supports tens of thousands of jobs locally. Activists had hoped the prospect of the government downgrading employees’ final-salary pension scheme would, at least in part, neutralise Tory attacks.
Labour has admitted that it is facing an “incredibly tight” battle in the constituency, where its candidate, a St John ambulance driver and former hospital doctor Gillian Troughton, is defending a 2,564 majority over the Conservatives. The poll will take place on the same day as the byelection in Stoke-on-Trent Central, a strongly pro-leave seat where Labour is facing a concerted challenge from the Ukip leader Paul Nuttall.Labour has admitted that it is facing an “incredibly tight” battle in the constituency, where its candidate, a St John ambulance driver and former hospital doctor Gillian Troughton, is defending a 2,564 majority over the Conservatives. The poll will take place on the same day as the byelection in Stoke-on-Trent Central, a strongly pro-leave seat where Labour is facing a concerted challenge from the Ukip leader Paul Nuttall.
Dai Hudd, Prospect’s deputy general secretary, said that although industrial action had been averted in the short-term, the union was prepared to ballot its members for a strike if the government sought to impose changes that were not acceptable to its members. He said: “There is no doubting the strength of feeling amongst Prospect members at Sellafield and other nuclear sites. They were given guarantees about pensions and these were even enshrined in legislation. We will exhaust all opportunities to discuss improvements to the proposals. However, we will not hesitate to ballot for industrial action if government seeks to impose any changes that are not acceptable to members.” Dai Hudd, Prospect’s deputy general secretary, said that industrial action had been averted only in the short-term. “There is no doubting the strength of feeling amongst Prospect members at Sellafield and other nuclear sites,” he said. “They were given guarantees about pensions and these were even enshrined in legislation. We will exhaust all opportunities to discuss improvements to the proposals. However, we will not hesitate to ballot for industrial action if government seeks to impose any changes that are not acceptable to members.”
The other unions representing Sellafield workers, the GMB, Unite and Aslef, have not yet confirmed whether they will move to take industrial action before the by-election. However, a source close to the negotiations said they believed they were unlikely to do so. The unions are to host a special hustings for nuclear workers and their families on Wednesday, and a spokesperson said the pension dispute would be high on the agenda. The other unions representing Sellafield workers, the GMB, Unite and Aslef, have not yet confirmed whether they will move to take industrial action before the by-election. However, a source close to the negotiations said they believed they were unlikely to do so. The unions are to host a special hustings for nuclear workers and their families on Wednesday and a spokesperson said the pension dispute would be high on the agenda.
“Candidates must be ready to answer vitally important questions on their, and their parties’ view, on nuclear power,” they said. “The candidates will also know that the government is threatening pension cuts for 16,000 nuclear workers throughout the country which could have an impact on this byelection.” “Candidates must be ready to answer vitally important questions on their – and their party’s – view, on nuclear power,” they said. “The candidates will also know that the government is threatening pension cuts for 16,000 nuclear workers throughout the country, which could have an impact on this byelection.”