THOUSANDS of nuclear staff have voted to accept a lower-than-expected pay rise – to give a major boost to future workers.

Sellafield Ltd's employees will receive a 0.25 per cent rise, backdated to April, which ensures the firm’s current apprentices, trainees and graduates will receive more lucrative terms and conditions if they become full-time employees at the end of their training.

In June, Sellafield Ltd imposed inferior terms and conditions for its new starters, including lower starting salaries and fewer days off, claiming the measures will save around £4m a year and increase productivity.

The unions said at that time that current apprentices and trainees were being hardest hit by the changes, having started a scheme with the expectation of receiving the old terms and conditions when they became qualified, “only to have the goalposts shifted midway through”.

Sellafield Ltd responded by offering staff a choice in the annual pay review between a 0.25 per cent rise and the protection of the old terms and conditions for current apprentices, trainees and graduates or a one per cent rise. Members of the site's main unions - Prospect, Unite and GMB - were balloted and have this week voted for the 0.25 per cent rise, which will be backdated to April 1.

Steve Gibbons, from Unite, said: “We were in the middle of pay negotiations – and had rejected the initial offer of one per cent – when the bombshell about the new terms and conditions was dropped.

"We went to ballot and it is clear our membership wants to protect young people in the area.”

It is understood Sellafield Ltd has written to staff to give assurances that the new terms and conditions will never be imposed on existing employees.

When the new terms and conditions were imposed, Sellafield Ltd’s chief executive Paul Foster said: “These changes are about fairness – to our workforce, our local community and the UK taxpayer. We have compared these terms and conditions with other employers and what we’re offering is still among the best in the marketplace.

“They save £4m every year from now until our mission ends in over 100 years’ time. That is money we would rather spend creating new jobs and focusing on our number one priority – reducing the hazards on the site.”