Workers at Cruachan Power Station to take strike action

Workers at the Cruachan Power Station will go on strike in mid-March as Drax Hydro employees vote to walk out over a pay dispute, writes Finn Nixon.

Unite the Union confirmed that energy workers employed by Drax Hydro Limited, which operates the station near Loch Awe, have voted for strike action.

The union has accused the energy company of corporate greed and claim that when combined with a separate pay dispute at the Drax power station in Yorkshire, this strike could lead to power cuts.

Around 50 Unite members who work at Drax’s three power stations in Scotland have voted to take action, with 84.6 per of members voting to walkout.

The workers include engineers, plant controllers, and mechanical and electrical craft workers.

Strike action days are expected to take place from mid-March, with Unite making an official announcement about planned dates next week.

This vote follows the rejection of an eight per cent pay offer, which is significantly below the current rate of inflation of 13.4 per cent.

Drax Hydro posted its latest accounts in July 2022 on Companies House and these indicated that the company made profits of around £2.3 million in 2021.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Drax Hydro is a profitable energy company and it can afford to pay its workforce significantly more than the current offer. It is also part of a wider Drax Group with underlying earnings for last year projected to be around £680m. This is a classic case of corporate greed and now the UK faces a threat of power cuts due to Drax’s greed.”

The Drax Group generates 11 per cent of the UK’s renewable energy and a fifth of it during peak periods.

A Drax spokesman said: “In the event of industrial action, there is no risk to public electricity supplies and Drax has robust plans in place to ensure our plants in Scotland remain safe. We have put forward a generous full and final pay settlement which rewards our valued colleagues with a significant pay rise worth 10 per cent.”

He added: “We are deeply disappointed that Unite is planning to go forward with this unnecessary action which will see colleagues lose money instead of securing a significant pay rise.

“Drax remains open to dialogue with Unite to avoid industrial action.”

Elaine Dougall, Unite regional co-ordinating officer, said: “The pay offer on the table by Drax Hydro is unacceptable. The company is profitable and the workforce has made reasonable demands that Drax can well afford to pay.

“Unite will not tolerate real terms pay cuts and our members are determined to get what they deserve.

“It should not have needed to come to this point as the parent group is awash with hundreds of millions in profit.

“Strike action is now on the cards in a couple of weeks’ time and the blame for any threats to energy supply lies completely with the company.”

‘The parent group is awash with hundreds of millions in profit.’