Striking Sellafield workers left to urinate in public

Posted by GMB Admin
Thursday 14 August 2025
GMB Trade Union - Striking Sellafield workers left to urinate in public

Striking Sellafield workers are being left to urinate in public after the company refused to provide facilities for them.

Almost 200 workers have walked out of the Cumbria nuclear facility after overwhelmingly rejecting the 3.5 per cent deal offered by the company.

GMB members working for Mitie, have begun their ninth day of strike action today [Thursday]

Not only has Sellafield refused to provide access toilet access to those on the picket line, as yet they haven’t provided GMB with a location to install a Portaloo.

The nearest public toilet is several miles away.

Mitie’s pay offer would leave these frontline workers, responsible for cleaning, security, landscaping, waste management, postal services, and laundry support the safety and functionality of one of Europe’s most hazardous nuclear facilities, earning little more than £13 per hour.

Dan Gow, GMB Regional Organiser, said

"Sellafield’s toilet plan for these striking workers appears to be ‘we won’t provide any — just find a bush;’.

“Nothing says modern workplace standards like leaving women, disabled workers and anyone with medical needs to crouch behind a hedge.

“Bosses may well not be happy with this strike, but dignity is not a luxury — safe, accessible toilets are a basic right.

“Sellafield must do better.”

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