A WARNING has been issued that "significant disruption" will be caused by engineering construction workers based at Torness Power Station voting for strike action over pay.

The workers carry out essential repair and maintenance at the nuclear power station, east of Dunbar, and strike action would, according to Unite the Union, cause “significant disruption”.

The workers, who operate under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), have rejected a two-year pay offer of 10 per cent for 2024 and five per cent for 2025.

The offer, from the employers who negotiate the NAECI agreement with unions, does not go far enough, according to Unite, to restore years of falling wages for engineering construction workers.

Fifty members work out of Torness and Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “NAECI workers have seen their pay fall further and further behind in real terms as a result of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Meanwhile, most NAECI employers have benefited from huge profits generated from rocketing energy and fuel prices.

“NAECI contractors and clients, including Altrad and Exxon Mobile, can fully afford to put forward a better offer.

“This is what must happen.”

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Torness Power Station started generating electricity in 1988 and is due to close its doors in 2028.

Currently, it is home to about 550 full-time EDF employees plus more than 180 full-time contract partners.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, pay for engineering construction workers has fallen in real terms.

During the pandemic, a pay freeze was imposed on the workers, who continued to provide essential services throughout the crisis.

In January last year, they received a two-year pay deal of 2.5 per cent for 2022 and the same percentage increase for 2023 – inflation was soaring into double digits at the time.

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Strike action will be conducted in conjunction with other NAECI workers operating at oil refineries, power stations and pharmaceutical and petro-chemical plants across the nation.

Workers at Drax, Sellafield, Stanlow, Pembroke, Grangemouth, Teesside Sabic TIP and Runcorn Project Summer Vynova have also voted for strike action.

Due to the strength of feeling amongst NAECI members, Unite is balloting even more workers at other sites across the country to join any industrial action.

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Jason Poulter, Unite national officer, said: “There is a limited window of opportunity for NAECI contractors and clients to avoid widespread industrial unrest.

“They have the money to ensure that our members' rates are restored to their previous value.

“Their latest offer was inadequate and was overwhelmingly rejected by our members.

“They need to get back into negotiations and work with us to find an acceptable offer.”

EDF have been approached for a comment.