GMB, the union for nuclear workers, has called for the
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to be scrapped after a
botched contract looks set to cost UK taxpayers £100
million.
The government has been forced to pay the enormous sum to
settle with the Cavendish Fluor Partnership after mishandling the
way a £6.1bn nuclear decommissioning contract was awarded.
[1]
This just is the latest bungle by government body tasked
with decommissioning old reactors – which has now been forced to
end the contract for cleaning up a dozen of the UK’s old nuclear
sites nine years early.
GMB has been locked in an ongoing battle with the authority
over a £600 million broken pension promise. [2]
Gary Smith, GMB Scottish Secretary,
said:
"This is another debacle presided over by the NDA - the
same body who has been trying to cut our nuclear workers'
pensions while blowing hundreds of millions in taxpayers money on
failed contracts across the nuclear estate.
“The Cavendish Fluor deal was subject to legal challenges
by Energy Solutions.
"It was a mess from the off and that is down to the
NDA.
"We need to cut out the middle men, have this work done
in-house to cut costs and to save the taxpayer money.
"It's time to say 'enough is enough'. The NDA needs to be
scrapped as it currently exists and a Nuclear Development Agency
created."
ENDS
[1] UK nuclear decommissioning debacle costs
government nearly £100m
March 27, 2017
Business secretary orders inquiry into flawed tendering
process for dismantling old reactors at 12 sites as US firms get
paid for out of court settlement
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/27/uk-nuclear-decommissioning-debacle-costs-government-100m
[2] NDA's £660million Broken
Pension Promise
Thursday, January 5, 2017
There is no justification for this attack on the pensions
of these nuclear workers and their communities, these pension
funds are in a sound state say GMB, Unite, Prospect and
Aslef.
Read more: http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/nda-pension-promise
