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‘HORRIFYING’ ATTACK ON PICKETS
‘Unprovoked’ – Unite strikers attacked at Sellafield
Unite confirmed in September that an incident occurred at the Calder Gate of the Sellafield nuclear site during a lawful and peaceful picket.
A Polaris Ranger off-road vehicle was driven into a group of workers, with one worker requiring hospital treatment.
Police arrested four people in connection with the incident. Two of those arrested – a 16-year-old boy and 19-year-old man – were later released without charge.
But two other men, brothers Craig Fawcett, 50, and Albert Darren Fawcett, 52, were charged with serious injury by dangerous driving and dangerous driving respectively – charges which they have denied in an initial court hearing. The brothers are to appear at Carlisle Crown Court in October.
Unite North West regional secretary Ritchie James called the incident “both shocking and horrifying to all those who witnessed it”.
Meanwhile, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Unite utterly condemns the unprovoked attack on our members.
“The police must use the full force of the law to prosecute those responsible. This incident will not deter our members in continuing with their lawful industrial action and the strikes will go ahead as planned.”
As of writing, the dispute at Sellafield, over the employer’s refusal to increase Sellafield-specific allowances, continues. It involves 1,500 Unite members, including electricians, joiners, pipe-fitters, riggers, welders and groundworkers.
Concrete results after strike threat
Workers at Tarmac’s concrete block plant at Alfreton, Derbyshire have accepted an improved four per cent pay rise, averting potential strike action.
Over 30 Unite members, including maintenance workers, quality technicians and fitters, at the plant who make and pack aerated concrete blocks for construction projects, had voted to walk out in the dispute around pay and shift terms.
As well as the four per cent pay rise, backdated to January 1, 2025, the workers will also get double time
overtime rate for bank holiday working where it is not a scheduled working day.
Unite regional officer Paula Stephens said, “Workers at Tarmac stuck together and it paid off, as they now have been offered improved terms around shift pay which they would not have got if they hadn’t voted for industrial action.
“Workers seeking better pay and working conditions should join Unite and encourage their co-workers to do the same.”
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