As the largest union in BNFL, Prospect called for the safeguards during a meeting with management and other unions to discuss the planned sell-off of the British Nuclear Group.

Speaking after the meeting, Prospect National Secretary Mike Graham described the talks as productive, adding: "We welcomed the opportunity to open discussions on what the impact of plans to sell-off the BNG would be, not only on our members, but on the security and safety of the nuclear industry in the UK as a whole."

On behalf of 6,000 members in BNFL, Graham said: "We stressed that we would want to see a range of qualification criteria used in the selection of any potential purchaser for BNG. These include the health, safety and environmental history of any bidders as well as their approach to security and attitude to union negotiation and staff relations."

But, said Graham, until further details became apparent, and a full consultative exercise had been undertaken with members, the union was unable to offer the support for the sale sought by BNFL management.

The union’s policy over the sale will be debated at a meeting of all 150 Prospect reps within BNFL, scheduled to take place in Blackpool on November 3-4. BNFL senior management have been invited to attend and address the meeting.