Nuclear firm targets job cuts

Although Chapelcross is already well through its decommissioning process, site managers Magnox have announced cuts of 1400 to 1600 staff across its 12 sites before September 2016.
The reduction includes staff, agency and contract posts, and a statement delivered to Chapelcross workers yesterday said: “These reductions arise from expected step downs in the Magnox programme at a number of our sites and also as a result of the implementation of a more streamlined operating model to more effectively deliver the decommissioning programme at the 12 Magnox sites.”
The statement added: “We will seek wherever possible for these reductions to be through voluntary means and we will endeavour to re-train staff in roles where we are currently reliant on agency resources.”
Alternative roles will be offered within the wider Cavendish Nuclear/Fluor business and elsewhere, including potential opportunities in the wider nuclear sector.
Magnox Ltd say a ‘consolidation phase’ was build into the acquisition of the contract won by parent company Cavendish Fluor Partnership (CFP).
It is not yet complete but Magnox say this has resulted in a number of differences to the expected decommissioning programme being identified at some sites.
The statement to workers said: “The end date for this site is currently being validated.
“It remains our intention that there will be an interim care and maintenance period for the site.”
Reacting to the development, Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said: “It’s clear that there will be people having to leave Chapelcross earlier than they anticipated – that’s a fact – and we need to make sure that they have all the support they need for other employment opportunities.”