STRIKING canteen staff at Britain’s largest power station today warned that its food and drink facilities have become a “health hazard” as they vowed to intensify their pay row action.

The workers at Drax in North Yorkshire, who are asking for a £1-an-hour pay rise, found grime-covered, mouldy facilities and out-of-date food when they returned to work from a previous action last month, Unite said.

Contract catering business BaxterStorey agreed to negotiate a voluntary union recognition agreement with the workforce and enter pay talks since their action began last month. 

The current round of strikes is to continue until January 14 with a further 14 days of strikes to begin on January 22, Unite said.

General secretary Sharon Graham accused the firm of acting out of “sheer corporate greed.”

Baxter Storey said it has brought the Living Wage pay increase forward to January and blamed the strike on Unite making “three further last-minute demands that were not agreed upon.”