Union officials meet this morning to discuss strategy. Army prepares to stand in
Senior union representatives for 2,000 UK fuel delivery drivers were locked in a strategy meeting this morning following their members’ vote in favour of strike action. No date has been announced, and officials say a walkout can still be averted, but there are fears that strikes could take place over the traditionally busy Easter period. Members of the trade union Unite working for seven major fuel distributors voted 69% in favour of strike action on a turnout of 77%. That represents an overall ballot in favour of just over 50%. Drivers at Turners, Norbert Dentressangle, Wincanton, BP and Hoyer are in favour of a walkout while drivers at DHL and Suckling voted against. The Ministry of Defence said no decision had been made to deploy military drivers but confirmed that it was working with the Department for Energy and Climate Change to “identify whether the armed forces might be able to support the delivery of essential services in the event of industrial action”. An MOD spokesman added that the move was only “prudent planning to ensure military personnel are trained and ready to provide support”, and would not confirm whether military drivers would cross picket lines. Union officials deny the dispute is about pay, claiming their members are seeking to ensure higher training and safety standards as well as "stability" over pensions and working conditions. They also say delivery companies are "cutting corners" in order to win contracts from the major suppliers. Diana Holland, Unite Assistant General Secretary, explained: “No longer can it be acceptable that oil giants rake in profits, while shirking their responsibility for the stable supply of a national commodity. The measures we are proposing are reasonable, responsible and sensible. We urge them to act and listen.” The affected companies deliver fuel to a range of household names, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, BP, Shell and Esso. Any disruption to fuel supplies has the potential to be highly damaging to the economy and will raise the spectre of the fuel refinery blockades in 2000 which caused widespread disruption. Union officials say strike action can still be averted but that attempts to reach agreement have been thwarted by "unrelenting attacks on drivers’ terms and conditions".
Senior union representatives for 2,000 UK fuel delivery drivers were locked in a strategy meeting this morning following their members’ vote in favour of strike action. No date has been announced, and officials say a walkout can still be averted, but there are fears that strikes could take place over the traditionally busy Easter period. Members of the trade union Unite working for seven major fuel distributors voted 69% in favour of strike action on a turnout of 77%. That represents an overall ballot in favour of just over 50%. Drivers at Turners, Norbert Dentressangle, Wincanton, BP and Hoyer are in favour of a walkout while drivers at DHL and Suckling voted against. The Ministry of Defence said no decision had been made to deploy military drivers but confirmed that it was working with the Department for Energy and Climate Change to “identify whether the armed forces might be able to support the delivery of essential services in the event of industrial action”. An MOD spokesman added that the move was only “prudent planning to ensure military personnel are trained and ready to provide support”, and would not confirm whether military drivers would cross picket lines. Union officials deny the dispute is about pay, claiming their members are seeking to ensure higher training and safety standards as well as "stability" over pensions and working conditions. They also say delivery companies are "cutting corners" in order to win contracts from the major suppliers. Diana Holland, Unite Assistant General Secretary, explained: “No longer can it be acceptable that oil giants rake in profits, while shirking their responsibility for the stable supply of a national commodity. The measures we are proposing are reasonable, responsible and sensible. We urge them to act and listen.” The affected companies deliver fuel to a range of household names, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, BP, Shell and Esso. Any disruption to fuel supplies has the potential to be highly damaging to the economy and will raise the spectre of the fuel refinery blockades in 2000 which caused widespread disruption. Union officials say strike action can still be averted but that attempts to reach agreement have been thwarted by "unrelenting attacks on drivers’ terms and conditions".
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