Workers at Drax Power Station are being balloted on strike action as a result of claims a ‘no redundancy’ pledge was broken.
Union Unite is leading the vote among members, with the company refuting any such promise was made.
It comes after redundancy packages were rejected in June by those affiliated to Unite, opening up the potential course of action, though members of GMB and Prospect have accepted enhanced terms.
It revolves around the 206 job losses proposed as the electricity-generating giant calls time on coal, with the biomass replacement a far more automated process.
Unite claims that during the last pay deal negotiations, it was agreed verbally that there would be no compulsory redundancies amongst the 600-strong workforce.
The union alleges Drax has now backtracked. Drax said the pledge was never made, with a joint statement made earlier this year flagged as underlining the situation.
Unite said that if the workers voted for strike action it would be a first at the North Yorkshire plant. The ballot closes on Tuesday, August 25.
Unite regional officer Shane Sweeting said: “The management has continually failed to live up to the terms of last year’s pay agreement when they stated verbally that there would be no compulsory redundancies amongst the workforce.
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“Our members, who worked flat-out through the pandemic, have even offered to take a pay and bonus freeze to improve redundancy terms and maintain jobs, but that was rejected by the bosses.
“Unite’s reps have asked management repeatedly for other options rather than compulsory redundancy to be considered, but these requests have all fallen on deaf ears.”
Mr Sweeting reiterated the union’s stance for a scheme of natural wastage as workers left or retired, adding: “There is a still a generous window of opportunity before the strike ballot closes for the management to sit down with Unite for constructive negotiations to avoid industrial action. Unite’s door is open for such talks 24/7.”
A Drax spokesperson said: “Drax has never said there would be no compulsory redundancies. A joint statement agreed with Unite in February when we announced we would be stopping using coal in March 2021 bears testament to this.
“Whilst we recognise that this is a very difficult time for those employees who are affected, as well as their families, stopping using coal is the right thing to do for our business, our communities and the environment.
“All the other coal power stations in the region have closed. We’re investing in our biomass transformation to ensure the power station has a long-term future. More than 400 plant-based jobs will remain at Drax as a result of our biomass transformation and we will continue to support thousands more jobs throughout our biomass supply chain across the North.
“We have worked closely with the trades unions to agree the enhanced redundancy terms linked to around 200 roles.
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“It is disappointing that Unite is balloting for industrial action when the enhanced redundancy terms have been accepted by the GMB and Prospect unions.
“We continue to seek a resolution with Unite.”