Strikes at British Energy to go ahead, Acas steps in to arbitrate

Acas
is set to arbitrate between unions and management over the pay dispute at
British Energy, the main UK nuclear power producer.

However,
the unions have stated that conciliation over the dispute will not stop
industrial action at some nuclear plants scheduled for next Monday.

British
Energy, which has eight nuclear plants and provides more than a fifth of the
UK’s electricity, wants to introduce new working practices in the face of
falling energy prices.

The
company reportedly offered staff a one-year deal worth 2.4 per cent but unions
were looking for increases of between 3.2 and 3.5 and have threatened an
overtime ban and a work-to-rule which they say could close the plants.

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The
Financial Times reports that despite the planned industrial action, the unions
plan to enter talks with a constructive mindset.

By Ross Wigham