Dounreay power station to be hit by further industrial action
Unite the Union has today announced extra days of industrial action set to hit Dounreay power station as part of an ongoing pay dispute.
Over 500 Unite members employed by Nuclear Restoration Services Limited (NRS) will now take 24-hour strike action on June 19 in addition to the action scheduled for tomorrow (May 29).
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “NRS has the ability to make its workers a fair pay offer and the fact that it refuses to do so while risking shutdowns at Dounreay speaks volumes.
“Unite’s growing membership at the power station remain resolute and the company’s intransigence will only fuel their determination.
“Unite fully back our members at Dounreay power station in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The union has also confirmed that an overtime ban and an end to working voluntary appointments will continue from June 1-18, and thereafter from June 20-30.
The union say that since the initial day of strike action, NRS has not returned to the negotiating table.
Its membership overwhelmingly rejected a revised pay offer which proposed a one-off £500 payment on top of a basic 4.5 per cent increase.
Unite’s NRS membership includes craft technicians, general operators, engineers, maintenance fitters and safety advisors.
The membership previously backed strike action by 85.5 per cent on a high turnout of 82.3 per cent.
Marc Jackson, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite is extremely disappointed that the senior management team at NRS have not even made contact to resolve this pay dispute.
“We have warned NRS that unless a revised pay offer is put on the table which our members can consider, then we are heading for prolonged industrial action.
“The extra days of industrial action will have a substantial impact on the ability of NRS to undertake essential maintenance and safety work. It will also lead to Dounreay potentially being closed at points because the company simply won’t have the people to do the jobs.”
