Health Physics Monitors To Strike Over Pay

GMB members employed as Health Physics Monitors on the Sellafield nuclear site will take strike action on Tuesday 28 July 2015 to secure a substantially better rate of pay through a re-grading process.

The result of the official strike ballot was announced on 6 July 2015.

97.8% voted Yes and 2.2% voted No, with a turnout of 83.76%.

The Health Physics Monitors are trained in assessment of radiological conditions to provide appropriate radiological safety and advice to safeguard personnel, plant and environment.

GMB has given the company an assurance that minimum safety manning levels will be maintained throughout the strike.

Chris Jukes, GMB Senior Organiser, said: "The issue of pay and grade for the Health Physics Monitors is something that has been rumbling on for at least fifteen years.

"GMB representing the Health Physics Monitors (HPMs) has been engaged in intensive discussions with Sellafield management for a couple of years. However matters reached an impasse with management after all parties thought that an agreement had been reached to settle the issue.

"Initially the HPMs received an uplift in their grade which led to a major problem with the inherited negotiating arrangements on site. Subsequent renegotiations led to what we understood to be a situation that could lead to an increase in HPMs take home pay.

"However, in subsequent discussions around criteria for progression to a new rate of pay, it became clear to workplace representatives that there would be an unknown number of monitors benefiting from changes.

"Management subsequently refused to elaborate on their views of the criteria or the number of post holders who would go up in grades. The situation escalated when Management refused to negotiate further.

"The Health Physics Monitors became extremely frustrated at the situation and it became clear in meetings of the workforce that there was a mood to take matters further."

(CD/JP)