MORE than 1,200 construction workers at Sellafield are set to down tools in a health and safety protest. 

Workers involved in the decommissioning and renewal project at Sellafield are due to take a two and half hour strike tomorrow morning. 

Members of trade union, Unite, will be downing tools between 05.30 and 08.00 over a refusal by Sellafield and the group sub-contractor companies to facilitate a full-time union convenor on the site. 

Workers are pressing for a full-time convenor on the site to improve industrial relations and help address growing health and safety concerns in addition to poor welfare facilities on the construction site. 

The strike will see picket lines set up outside the entrances to Sellafield including the main gate and follows an ongoing work-to-rule and overtime ban which has been in place since Friday July 31.  

Mick Whitley, Unite regional secretary, said: “Sellafield is an important nuclear facility where health and safety and the welfare of workers should be paramount. 

"Our experience shows that a full-time union convenor would help ensure a healthier, more productive and profitable workplace.

“Workers want to work in a safe environment with constructive industrial relations. 

"The continued refusal by Sellafield Ltd and the sub-contractors to implement arrangements which are commonplace across the industry puts this reasonable expectation at risk.

“Our members are sick and tired of being treated like second class citizens on one of Europe’s biggest construction projects. 

"We would urge Sellafield Ltd and the sub-contractors to start treating their workers as partners and enter meaningful talks.”

Unite is warning of further strikes unless serious moves are taken to address concerns.