Mass strike by construction workers at key energy plants called off

A mass strike by protesting energy workers, including at the North West Sellafield nuclear facility and Stanlow oil refinery sites, has been averted.

Trade union, GMB, has called off the planned action by more than 3,000 construction workers, after receiving a ‘whopping’ pay deal from employers.

Sites that were earmarked for strike action included Stanlow, Fawley, Valero, Grangemouth and Mossmorran Oil Refineries, as well as at the Sellafield nuclear facility in Cumbria.

However, today (January 19), the staff decided to accept a pay deal worth more than 17% over two years.

The workers, who are covered by the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), will now earn an extra 11.3% for 2024 and an additional 5.5% for 2025, along with improvements to sick pay and other allowances.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB national officer, said: “These skilled workers have fought for the pay rise they so richly deserve.

“After watching their pay erode due to rampant inflation, they stood together and forced this whopping deal.

“They should be rightly proud of themselves.”