A further round of stoppages at Sellafield by health physics monitors has been announced.

The GMB union, which represents the monitors, has notified Sellafield management that further strike action is to take place on Tuesday from 8.30am to 12.30pm, with a march from Yottonfews to Sellafield main gate and Wednesday from 6.30am to Friday at 6.30am.  

The union, which represents the 371 monitors, says that its members deserve a universal pay rise, while Sellafield Ltd maintains that any increase should be based on merit.

Monitors, 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.

The GMB claims that Sellafield management has made no further attempts at discussion about pay. 

Chris Jukes GMB senior organiser said: "Management have said they have tried negotiations. They haven't.

"They have spent weeks trying to tell the outside world it is business as usual but it isn't."

A statement released by Sellafield Ltd when the monitors went on strike last month, said: "The dispute centres on a fundamental difference of understanding of an agreement by the company to reward a number of monitors who display particular skills and behaviours.

"The principle that some of those individuals are entitled to further reward is not in contention.

"Our position is absolutely clear – the principle of offering any level of payment is to further reward those whose work merits further reward."