Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a major 12.2 per cent rise for cleaners and caterers working at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria.

 

Clean and catering staff

 

The 30-plus workers are employed by Mire Services Ltd, a local company which undertakes cleaning and catering services for the hundreds of construction workers who operate on the complex.

 

Unite has secured a pay deal which has seen the workers’ pay increase from the national minimum wage rate of £8.91 an hour to £10 per hour, a rise of 12.2 per cent.

 

Major pay increase

 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at Mire Services stood together to secure this major pay increase. It’s a great win which underlines our commitment to improving pay across the Sellafield site and yet again demonstrates the value of being a member of Unite.”

 

The increase in the pay rates follows Unite securing formal recognition to represent the workforce in March 2021.

 

Unite had previously secured agreement at Sellafield that all facility management workers at the complex, including outsourced workers, will receive at least the foundation living wage rate, which now stands at £9.90 an hour. This agreement with Mire Services secures the minimum basic rate of £10 an hour for soft services workers (cleaners, caterers, waste and security staff) at Sellafield.

 

Improving pay and conditions

 

Unite regional officer Ryan Armstrong said: “Unite is absolutely focused on improving pay and conditions for all workers at Sellafield regardless of who they are employed by.

 

“Once our members at Mire Services became organised, Unite was able to enter into negotiations with the company and secure a much-needed pay rise for the workforce.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

 

During the coronavirus crisis Unite is working to keep workers and the public safe, to defend jobs and to protect incomes.

 

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

 

Email: [email protected]

 

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org

 

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.