Strike action by Mitie's Unite members at Sellafield will continue until June 17.

Mitie’s 180 Unite members have been on strike for 28 days since April following a row over pay.

However action planned to begin on Sunday was called off to allow for talks between the union and Mitie's bosses.

But Unite members started the strike again yesterday.

The dispute is a result of staff employed by Mitie on the Sellafield contract – including security guards, cleaners, catering, vending, laundry and environmental operatives – rejecting the company’s pay offer with workers receiving £8.45 an hour.

And now Unite has also revealed the results of a confidential survey of its members who work for Mitie at Sellafield has shown that staff suffer high levels of stress, mental ill health, financial problems and bullying.

A Unite spokesman said: "The survey found that 91 per cent of members said that in the past year they had experienced stress at work. The principle causes of stress were low pay (66 per cent), too much work per shift (52 per cent) and bullying at work (28 per cent). Over a quarter of the affected workers (28 per cent) had to visit their GP due to stress, with 18 per cent having to take time off work due to the condition."

The fresh wave of strikes will continue until June 17.

Unite regional organiser Ryan Armstrong said: "The findings of the survey are horrific. Levels of stress, bullying, mental and physical ill health are off the scale.

"Many of Mitie’s staff are being forced to borrow money from family and friends while some have even had to resort to food banks because of the company’s poverty pay.

"The level of suffering being experienced by Mitie workers at Sellafield is a stain on both companies. Immediate action needs to be taken to relieve this workplace misery.

"Unite entered negotiations in good faith but Mitie’s refusal to put additional money on the table meant the talks were doomed to failure.

"If Mitie and Sellafield are serious about resolving this dispute, then they need to return to the negotiating table and make a sensible offer and then tackle the working practices which are making our members ill."

Unite said it had suspended the latest strike action as an act of goodwill to allow negotiations to end the dispute. However Unite has accused Mitie of acting in bad faith by refusing to put any new money on the table, in the dispute over low pay.