UK's Drax Hydro workers to go on strike over pay
Workers at Drax Hydro Limited which operates power stations across Scotland have voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay, the Unite union said on Thursday.
The strike action days are expected to take place from mid-March with Unite making an official announcement next week.
Drax Hydro is a part of Drax Group Plc (DRX.L) which on Thursday posted an annual profit of 731 million pounds ($880 million), higher than expectations.
"Drax Hydro is a profitable energy company and it can afford to pay its workforce significantly more than the current offer," said Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.
"This is a classic case of corporate greed and now the UK faces a threat of power cuts due to Drax’s greed."
A Drax spokesperson said in the event of industrial action, there will be no risk to public electricity supplies.
"We have put forward a generous full and final pay settlement which rewards our valued colleagues with a significant pay rise worth 10%... Drax remains open to dialogue with Unite to avoid industrial action,” the spokesperson added.
Drax provides around 7% of Britain's electricity through its network of power stations.
Workers across a range of sectors in Britain have gone on strike in recent months, from rail workers to teachers, nurses to lawyers, as inflation, which hit a record high last year, squeezes household budgets.
($1 = 0.8308 pounds)
Drax Hydro is a part of Drax Group Plc (DRX.L) which on Thursday posted an annual profit of 731 million pounds ($880 million), higher than expectations.
"Drax Hydro is a profitable energy company and it can afford to pay its workforce significantly more than the current offer," said Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.
"This is a classic case of corporate greed and now the UK faces a threat of power cuts due to Drax’s greed."
A Drax spokesperson said in the event of industrial action, there will be no risk to public electricity supplies.
"We have put forward a generous full and final pay settlement which rewards our valued colleagues with a significant pay rise worth 10%... Drax remains open to dialogue with Unite to avoid industrial action,” the spokesperson added.
Drax provides around 7% of Britain's electricity through its network of power stations.
Workers across a range of sectors in Britain have gone on strike in recent months, from rail workers to teachers, nurses to lawyers, as inflation, which hit a record high last year, squeezes household budgets.
($1 = 0.8308 pounds)
