A STRIKING Sellafield worker was rushed to hospital yesterday after he was hit by a quad bike that drove into a picket line.
Shocking video footage shows workers in hi-vis jackets leaping out of the way as the farm vehicle careered through them.
AlamyA striking Sellafield worker was rushed to hospital yesterday[/caption]
Workers were forced to leap out of the way as a farm vehicle careered through a picket line
A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries
One could be heard yelling “What the f*ck are you doing?” at the quad biker as his colleague was left lying on the road.
The man was taken to hospital with serious injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening.
Around 1,500 construction workers are in a pay dispute with Sellafield and are taking part in a four-day strike this week.
Hundreds have been protesting outside each of the nuclear site’s three main gates causing huge delays for others getting into work.
One worker said: “It has been taking two hours longer than normal each day to get on site.
“As I was in the queue this morning this all kicked off behind me. There was an ambulance and about nine police vehicles all with their blue lights on.
“It seems like a local farmer has clashed with the strikers and lost it.”
A Unite union spokesman said: “We had about 100 workers on a peaceful picket line who were being accompanied by the police.
“At some point just before 9am a group was hit by a small farm vehicle which left one of our members hospitalised with serious injuries.
“It was completely unrelated to the strike.”
A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: “The pedestrian, a man, has been taken to the West Cumberland Hospital with serious injuries.
“Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Officers will be liaising with the organisers of the industrial action at this location to offer reassurance. There is no wider threat to the public.”
Around 1,500 workers including electricians, joiners and welders, who are members of the Unite union, are taking industrial action to persuade Sellafield bosses to match pay at other nuclear sites such as Hinkley Point C.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The employers at Sellafield need to start playing fair by our members, who are all highly skilled workers operating in an extremely challenging environment.”
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