Pay discrimination sparks blue collar walkout at nuclear plant

Workers
at the Sellafield nuclear plant have voted to strike over ‘pay discrimination’
against blue collar workers.

Staff
claim that British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) promised to close the pay gap between
industrial workers and office workers by April next year.

The
current shift pay for industrial workers is £6,750, while white collar staff
get £8,750.

GMB
national secretary for energy Brian Strutton said workers were feeling let down
after BNF offered to begin the process of harmonisation in April 2004, with the
process not being completed until April 2009.

"The
company made the commitment to end the discrimination against blue collar
workers in 1999 which means they’ve had four years to sort this out," he
said.

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Agreements
between BNFL and the unions mean safety will not be affected.

By Michael Millar