Talks to avoid strike action at Sellafield have begun

Last-ditch talks aimed at averting a pay strike by thousands of workers at the Sellafield nuclear site have started.

Union leaders representing 10,000 employees met with managers over a rejected pay offer of 2% on basic, plus a bonus funded through efficiency savings which the company said was worth another 2%.

Official ballots for strike action will be held next week if the deadlocked row is not broken in the next few days.

Steve Gibbons, regional officer of the GMB said: "The company need to improve the offer in regards to basic pay and the GMB is prepared to work with them to achieve this. We feel to achieve the efficiencies the company clearly want to achieve this year they need the support of our members and therefore need to be more realistic with their pay offer."

Barry Snelson, Sellafield's managing director, said: "I am pleased that both sides have agreed to get back around the negotiating table.

"There is still some way to go in the talks and still some distance between the union's position and our own, but this is a step in the right direction towards what we hope will be an amicable solution.

"I don't believe that a strike is in anyone's best interests and hopefully, with good will on both sides, industrial action can be avoided."