At a meeting with Darling and other nuclear unions in London, Prospect was severely critical of the BNFL Board’s changing policies regarding the sale or competition of the BNG Reactor Sites and Sellafield businesses.

After presenting Darling with a briefing listing the union’s concerns, Prospect National Secretary Mike Graham said: "Despite a commitment to fully consult with staff debate has been minimal, or in the case of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority non-existent. The openness and transparency we were promised bear no relation to the secretive process taking place.

"After telling staff that selling the group as a whole was in their best interests they then opted to sell the business piecemeal, with the date for the Project Services sale brought forward and the rest of the BNG sale delayed. It now appears to be the board’s intention to sell the Magnox Reactor Sites business on an accelerated timescale in line with the sale of Project Services."

Graham said the unions are deeply concerned by constant changes of policy by BNFL and to a lesser extent the NDA. "The workforce view of the BNFL Board is one of a lack of leadership and distrust; it has become nothing short of a farce. The board consistently claim that every decision and change in policy is in the best interests of the workforce without any explanation as to how or why this is the case."

The union is seeking assurances that the board has not already identified buyers for either Project Services or the Reactor Sites and is calling on individual board members to declare what bonuses they will receive as a result of the sale.

Said Graham: "Prospect welcomes Darling’s willingness to talk with the unions and commitment to make an early decision. But issues of safety, staff and local communities must be key elements in coming to a decision whether to sell or compete."

The unions called on the Secretary of State to:

• confirm as soon as possible the original decision to sell the BNG business as a whole (including Project Services) and end the uncertainty that is damaging staff morale
• ensure BNFL consults with the unions, including explaining their actions to the workforce, and that the NDA engages in genuine consultation
• guarantee staff have freedom of movement, without penalty, between all nuclear businesses.