Unite ballots workers over proposed Drax redundancies

Workers at the Drax power station in North Yorkshire have been voting this week in a ballot for strike action over 230 proposed redundancies, the Unite Union has revealed.

Drax announced in February that it would cease generation from its last two coal units next year, although they will remain available until September 2022 in line with its existing Capacity Market agreements.

It estimated at that point that between 200 and 230 roles were likely to go as a result of the decision.

Unite has accused Drax of backtracking on a verbal pledge made last year that there would be no compulsory redundancies among the 600-strong workforce.

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.

“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.”

However Drax has denied it said there would be no compulsory redundancies and pointed to the joint statement agreed with the union in February when it announced it would be stopping using coal.

A spokesperson added: “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 which will be made redundant when Drax stops using coal next year as part of our transformation from a coal-fired power station to the UK’s largest single site renewable power generator. It’s 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.”

Unite added that if the workers voted for strike action it would be the first time that such action had taken place at the plant, owned by the Drax Group. The ballot closes on Tuesday 25 August.

“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”, Sweeting added.