Sellafield staff vote for industrial action

The Sellafield plant in the UK

Workers at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria, England have voted to take industrial action in a row over health and safety.

The plant has a particular interest to people from Dundalk due to its location across the Irish Sea, with fears of any catastrophes there having a major impact on this area.

Unite said its 1,200 members at the site overwhelmingly backed a campaign of action. A meeting will be held next week to decide what form the action will take.

The union said it had been trying for 10 months to have an official appointed to a health and safety role at Sellafield, adding that talks have now broken down.

“Our members have lost patience with Sellafield management who have steadfastly continued to ignore our very reasonable request,” said regional officer Steve Benson. “All they are asking for is their right for a co-worker to become a union shop steward at the Sellafield site to represent construction workers and keep them safe.

“It makes sense for our members and the company and it will help improve industrial relations and a safety and welfare culture at the site. Unite members have no wish to take action, but are being forced to do so by a company unwilling to take our members’ concerns seriously.

“Unite has a proud track record of working with employers to resolve disputes and is urging Sellafield to get back to serious talks.”

Up to 60 jobs under threat at Heinz in Dundalk

The Heinz factory in Dundalk

As many as 60 jobs could be under threat at Heinz in Dundalk as part of the company’s plan to cut 248 office jobs across its 2,600 workforce in Ireland and the UK.

Heinz revealed yesterday that it had developed a new “streamlined structure”, which could lead to job losses similar to the 600 lay offs that were implemented in the United States earlier this month.

The latest accounts for Heinz show that it currently employs 279 staff in Dundalk. However, 217 of these are in manufacturing, which will not be targeted for redundancies.

Only office workers, which includes admin and sales staff, are under threat.

Heinz has refused to comment on where the jobs will be lost if they go ahead with their current plans but trade union Unite has said that it has been assured that none of its members were affected. Despite this they are looking to meet with Heinz management for further reassurances.

Yesterday’s statement said that the proposals were subject to a consultation process with employees and their representatives.

Heinz first came to Dundalk in 1993 and are based at the Finnabair Industrial Estate. They have picked up numerous awards over the years, with the local factory dedicated to making frozen meals as opposed to other products the company are famed for such as their baked beans and range of sauces.