Taxi Driver Online

Tanker drivers accept deal, end strike fears

LONDON | Fri May 11, 2012 2:51pm BST

LONDON (Reuters) - The threat of a petrol delivery strike, which prompted panic buying at the pumps last month, was lifted as fuel tanker drivers narrowly voted to accept an offer from seven oil distribution firms over pay and conditions, the Unite union said on Friday.

Unite, which represents 2,000 drivers who voted for a strike in March, said 51 percent of truckers had voted to accept new proposals put forward by the haulage firms which supply Britain's petrol stations after lengthy talks. Turnout was 69 percent.

"This narrow vote in favour lifts the threat of strike action, but leaves the companies with no room for complacency," said Diana Holland, Unite assistant general secretary.

The dispute rattled the government and led to huge queues at forecourts when Prime Minister David Cameron and Cabinet Minister Francis Maude advised motorists to fill up their cars and store fuel in jerry cans.

That led to widespread criticism from fuel retailers and fire-fighters, and the advice was later withdrawn.

The government also began training army personnel to drive fuel tankers in the event of any action to avoid a repeat of blockades of depots by hauliers and farmers in 2000 that almost brought the country to a standstill.

"Francis Maude's calamitous intervention highlighted that this country runs on unstable, short fuel supplies," Holland said. "It is not a jerry can in the garage we need, but a review of whether the industry is structured in the national interest."

Any strike could have hit 90 percent of Britain's fuel station forecourts and stocks would have begun to run dry within 48 hours of any action, according to Unite.

Drivers at four of the seven firms involved - Wincanton, DHL, Hoyer, BP, Norbert Dentressangle, Turners and Suckling - actually voted to reject the deal to settle the dispute over issues ranging from health and safety to pay and pensions.

Holland said the vote sent a warning to the companies that they would be held to account over assurances over contracts and improved terms.

The Road Haulage Association said common sense had prevailed but added that they were "not out of the woods yet".

Source; http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/1 ... P620120511

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Thank uck for that!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

It was inevitable it was to keep your mind pre-occupied

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

dont bank on it, not till Labour get back in and the Unions are put back in thier box for 5 years

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Still the fearmongering served it purpose, boosted the GDP figures to help hide the true cost of the so called austerity.

Correct.

Only for as long as it took people to use the contents of their tanks.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Yes I agree, however it served its purpose for the first quarter GDP figures which would of been far worse. This year with the Olymics and Euro football will be somewhat insulted. The last quarter and next year will be the real killer.
Remember there is another 10 billion the government plans to cut, from where who know. The banks are still in major trouble, lequidity issues will continue as banks try to ofset poor derivatives.

As Vince cable wrote a few months back, which was largely overlooked by the media. "Most people have no idea how bad things are going to get"