WORKERS at Sellafield nuclear plant have joined thousands of others across the country to protest at sackings at an oil refinery in Lincolnshire.

Up to 900 sub-contractors walked out after an unofficial mass meeting.

None are Sellafield staff, but all work on various construction projects.

A spokeswoman for Sellafield said the running of the plant was not affected.

Gary Stockton, senior organiser for the Unite union at Sellafield, said welders, electricians, platers and pipe fitters had decided to all walk out until Wednesday following the mass meeting this morning as part of a “sympathy stoppage” because of the way fellow workers had been treated at the Lindsey refinery.

”We are in the campaign together, we work together,” Mr Stockton said.

”This has got nothing to do with the way we are treated at Sellafield - Sellafield do everything by the book.

”It’s the way the 51 lads were treated at Lindsey... where you have got this company thinking they can ride roughshod over the men.”

A spokeswoman for Sellafield said: “The Sellafield site remains open and operational.

”Safety is paramount at all times at Sellafield and we are confident that the action will have no impact on safety, security or nuclear production.

”The action involves approximately 900 individuals, all of whom are contractors working for companies operating under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI).

”It does not involve Sellafield Ltd employees, who form the bulk of the workforce and who are continuing to carry out their duties in connection with the site’s main activities.”