Around 180 workers, who are members of Unite, have rejected an eight per cent pay increase as it was deemed to be a “substantial” pay cut in real terms. The current inflation rate according to the retail price index (RPI) stands at 13.4 per cent.
When Drax is fully operational it generates seven per cent of the UK’s electricity, but the proposed strike action would force Drax to temporarily shut down.
Due to tight supplies of natural gas and concerns over energy security, Drax was asked to start warming some of its elderly coal generators in January as energy demand soared amid low temperatures. A similar request was made in December, although the extra power ended up not being needed.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a classic case of greed by a company which is already generating eye-watering profits. Drax is cynically seeking to boost its bonanza profits further by forcing workers to take a real-terms pay cut.
“Unite is now totally...