Safety at the nuclear processing plant "will not be affected"

The 300 staff will walk out for eight hours in a row over a �2,000 pay gap between industrial and other staff.

Hugh Collum, the chairman of the plant's owner British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) said on Thursday he would step down in 2004.

BNFL said the move was unrelated to the dispute, but unions said they hoped it would help end the row.

The strike, by members of the GMB and Amicus unions, will be the first at the company in 26 years.

Although the staff will only walk out for eight hours - on the 1400 to 2200 GMT shift - it will take considerably longer to get the plant operations running again.

They said safety at the plant would not be affected by the action.

The unions said further strikes would be held on the next four Fridays, ultimately involving Sellafield's total union membership of 2,400, unless management began talking to them.

'No talks'

Officials say BNFL had agreed to harmonise pay between industrial and other staff by next April, but were now saying it could not be done until 2009.

Brian Strutton, national officer of the GMB, said his calls for talks had been rejected.

I'm disappointed that some people felt the need to resort to industrial action - clearly, this issue needs to be resolved Sellafield director Brian Watson

"We had hoped that BNFL would be reasonable and meet with us to avoid this dispute but our calls for talks have been met with silence," he said.

"We continue to urge BNFL to sit down and negotiate with us but they have refused to do so for the last two months."

Sellafield's director Brian Watson said he was "disappointed" the strike was going ahead.

"This is an excellent workforce and we are absolutely committed to delivering on our safety promises to our workers, their families and the local community," he said.

"I'm disappointed that some people felt the need to resort to industrial action. Clearly, this issue needs to be resolved."

Chairman going

Mr Collum, who was appointed in 1999, said mid-2004 was an appropriate time to step down because a strategic review of the firm would have been completed.

We hope [Mr Collum's departure] signals the removal of some barriers and that the company will now be willing to sit down and negotiate with us Brian Strutton, GMB

He said: "Making the announcement now gives certainty and stability to the business, by allowing adequate time for my successor to be recruited."

A BNFL spokesman said the timing of the announcement had "absolutely nothing to do" with the strike threat.

But Mr Strutton said: "We hope that this signals the removal of some barriers and that the company will now be willing to sit down and negotiate with us."

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, said Mr Collum had made an "invaluable contribution".

"Hugh took on the role of chairman of BNFL at a time of great difficulty and challenge for the company," she said.

"To restore trust in the company, he set about the complete overhaul of its board and senior management... he has led this important company with great skill."