Power station dispute settled as workers agree to pay offer
Workers at Drax Power Station have voted to accept a new pay offer, bringing an end to a dispute between union members and the facility’s management.
A Drax spokesman confirmed: “We are pleased to announce that a pay dispute at Drax Power Station has been resolved, with members of the Unite, GMB and Prospect unions voting in favour of accepting an improved two-year pay deal offered by Drax.”
Around 450 operational employees at the North Yorkshire power station, who are members of the Unite, GMB and Prospect unions were balloted on the revised pay offer, which includes a 2.8% pay rise in 2019 and 3% in 2020, linked to contractual changes relating to guaranteed payments for overtime.
The unions agreed to recommend the offer to their members – resulting in a 48-hour strike, which was due to take place from July 14, being called off, pending the outcome of the ballot.
The result of the ballot was 71.3% of members who chose to participate in the ballot voted in favour of the revised deal, putting an end to the dispute.
Unite regional officer Kelvin Mawer, said: “Unite members at the Drax power station have voted by a large majority to accept a new two-year pay deal, which was hammered out after a tough set of negotiations.
“Planned industrial action has been suspended and our members are working normally. Unite looks forward to a continuing constructive relationship with the management on pay and employment issues going forward.”
The workers at the power station produce an estimated 7% of Britain’s electricity needs.
