Proposed
industrial action at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria has been suspended
as British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) and the trade unions have agreed to go to Acas
to continue negotiations.
The
dispute centres on a promise by BNFL to harmonise salaries among industrial and
white collar staff at the plant by next year.
However,
the company has only offered to begin the process of harmonisation in April
2004, with the transition to be completed in April 2009.
The
blue collar workers at Sellafield began industrial action in early November
after BNFL refused to negotiate with the staff represented by the GMB and
Amicus unions.
Current
shift pay for industrial workers is £6,750 compared to £8,750 for office staff.
