HUNDREDS of nuclear workers across West Cumbria have taken strike action in a protest over pay. 

Workers from Sellafield took part in Tuesday's 24-hour strike and formed picket lines at three of the plant's gates, creating long tailbacks for those travelling to the site. 

The GMB union, which represents the 371 health physics monitors (HPMs) who took the action, says that its members deserve a universal pay rise, while Sellafield maintains that any increase should be based on merit. 

Joe Murdock, GMB convenor on site, said: "The decision to strike hasn't been taken lightly, but it sends a strong message that our members are aggrieved and feel they deserve the recognition of the pay upgrade they had been promised.

"The company has had many opportunities to resolve this but has declined any meaningful discussions with us." 

The long-standing dispute centres on the criteria of a pay rise pledged to the HPMs negotiated in January last year. 

The GMB argues that all HPMs should benefit from the new rate, while Sellafield Ltd says it should be awarded on merit.

More than 83 per cent of the monitors took part in a ballot for industrial action on July 6 and voted overwhelmingly – almost 98 per cent – in support of action. 

HPMs - who assess radiological conditions - are thought to receive an average salary of £40,000 per year and, like all Sellafield Ltd staff, received a 2.2 per cent pay rise in April.

Rory O'Neill, Sellafield Ltd's stakeholder relations director, said that the company is "focused on fairness" in its pay negotiations. 

He said: "We feel that monitors are fairly recompensed for the job they do. 

"The cream of the crop probably deserve more, but we don't agree with a blanket uplift." 

The GMB agreed that the legal minimum of 17 HPMs remained on site during the strike. 

Members held six-strong picket lines on the site's Calder, North and Main gates, displaying banners including: "We are sorry for the delay - blame the company." 

Mr Murdock said that the strike had the "desired effect" in terms of disruption to the site, while Mr O'Neill claimed that internal disruption had been "fairly light" and safety levels had been maintained. 

Grid-locked roads were largely confined to the vicinity of the site, and Mr Murdock added that the date had been chosen to coincide with the school holidays so the wider community was unaffected. 

Both Mr Murdock and Mr O'Neill said their respective organisations are open to further negotiations.