Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be particularly worried about this fuel strike?

183 replies

StealthPolarBear · 29/03/2012 08:58

Don't know why but it's making me feel very anxious. We managed through the last 2 so I don't know why it feels like this one will be different but it feels as though it will go on for longer and be more disruptive.

OP posts:
JustOneMoreQuestion · 29/03/2012 11:25

It won't make much difference if there is a strike or not at this rate! People panic buying is creating a fuel shortage that will impact on all of us.

headfairy · 29/03/2012 11:28

saltire I'm afraid your ds isn't quite right (though I'm impressed with his scepticism at such a tender age :o)

The strike is about safety issues with the drivers. The drivers are being asked to speed up times between deliveries, so called stop and drop deliveries. It was such dangerous practices that contributed to the Buncefield explosion. It may well also be about money, but I think safety concerns were the biggest issues that caused them to vote for strike action.

If you think about it, petrol delivery drivers are basically driving ginormous petrol bombs around. I really don't want them rushing their duties!

ungratefulbiped · 29/03/2012 11:28

I'm going to go and fill up my tank as it's nearly empty and not worry about it otherwise I'll be adding to the hysteria.... that still may or may not happen!

Flightty · 29/03/2012 11:29

There are massive queues this morning at Asda and the one next to it Hmm and people are starting to get cross, because it's making the traffic a bit dodgy.

I'm not filling up. I don't need the car for work...I don't think any of us should fill up unless we actually nEED it and can't use buses/get around/get to work any other way.

It's selfish. The competitiveness gets people going, they think 'I've got to win!' and so they join in with it.

Then someone who needs their car because they are actually DISABLED or have to get to work (like DP) can't get any bloody fuel.

I think they ought to be limiting who can access it somehow. I'm not sure how.

But I'm NOT filling up my car as a matter of principle. Call it panic-walking if you like, we'll be walking if we have to go somewhere.

I might start a thread.

TheCunningStunt · 29/03/2012 11:30

We are meant to be travelling 400 miles over Easter...might have to not go now in case we can't fill up to get back!

The government make a packet on fuel duty. They cause a bit of a rucuss and people panic buy...lining whose pockets exactly?....there may or may not be a strike....don't panic buy as its useless. They are hiking up prices too...which will go back down if there is no strike. Madness.

woollyideas · 29/03/2012 11:31

Telling people to fill jerry cans, but not to panic, was utterly stupid. No strike has been confirmed and, if there is a strike, contingency plans are being made, and yet the government tells people to store flammable liquids in their homes and garages. Smart move.

This might amuse some of you

TheCunningStunt · 29/03/2012 11:31

Ps I like a good conspiracy theory. But IMO they are right to strike, health and safety is not a compromise.

ComposHat · 29/03/2012 11:32

The British public and the motoring public in particular never fail to amaze me with their capacity to panic.

The only food and fuel shortages were caused by media driven hysteria - who delighted in showing empty supermarket shelves and queues at filling stations.

No one will starve and no one will lose their jobs. Contingency plans will be put in place for emergency services and any sensible employer will treat it like snow - try other methods like public transport lift share, walk or work from home, otherwise take it from leave or make the time up later.

thesmallestpotato · 29/03/2012 11:32

I have to say I'm a bit nervous, we're going on holiday (for the first time in years!) about 400 miles drive away for the first week of the Easter hols, we are likely to need to do a fair bit of driving while we're there as the place we're staying is quite remote. But it's the getting back that worries me a little - we're supposed to be driving back home on Easter Sunday in time for my 20 week scan the following week among other things, if we couldn't get fuel for the return journey things could start to get a little problematic.

Faverolles · 29/03/2012 11:33

Instead of strikes, would the tanker drivers not be better just to do the deliveries in a safe way and not drive over their allocated hours.
If they all stood together and did this, the fuel companies would have to take note surely?
I'm not convinced strikes will work, because there will be so much hostility from the public, major disruption, and with panic buying, the fuel companies will be rolling the money in anyway.

wordfactory · 29/03/2012 11:34

OMG the queues round here for fuel this morning were ridiculous.

I was being all relaxed and grown up about the proposed strike, then I saw them!

I have a 250 mile trip to make tomorrow. I was going to just fill up first thing as we set off. Am wondering if I shoud fill up today.

Al0uise · 29/03/2012 11:37

I'm really tempted to start sloshing some diesel into my car. Shall I start with a litre on a nearly full tank?

headfairy · 29/03/2012 11:40

I'm happy for everyone to panic buy this weekend, as next weekend when I need some so we can go to my cousins wedding there'll be no one at the pumps, and the army will have delivered fresh supplies :o

ComposHat · 29/03/2012 11:40

They cause a bit of a rucuss and people panic buy...lining whose pockets exactly?

I love a conspiracy theory as much as the next person - unless the next person is David Icke, but they aren't going to sell any more fuel, just more in one go.

It isn't like the sheep people who've filled up their cars won't chuck the fuel away or the petrol will go off, when sanity is restored they'll use up the fuel that's in their tanks and refill them to normal levels.

If anything less fuel will be sold overall as panicy motorists avoid inessential journeys.

woollyideas · 29/03/2012 11:40

"I feel anxious..."
"I'm starting to panic..."
"I'm a bit nervous..."

That is how the government and media want you to feel. Nothing like a bit of anxiety to keep us all in our places!

Quenelle · 29/03/2012 11:45

It's not that simple ComposHat. Even if a strike doesn't happen at all the government and media driven hysteria is creating shortages, queues and price hikes now.

Not all employers are sensible, unfortunately, and besides our annual leave is already accounted for covering the CM's holidays throughout the year. We live in one town and work in two others, and the CM lives in the middle. Public transport and lift sharing aren't options.

Believe me, I would love to change our situation so we're not reliant on two cars. Anyone want to buy our house so we can move to walking distance from work? Smile

Quenelle · 29/03/2012 11:46

They cause a bit of a rucuss and people panic buy...lining whose pockets exactly?

I think you're giving them too much credit. I don't think they're that bright tbh. The current situation is caused by their mismanagement, not some clever conspiracy they've all cooked up.

ComposHat · 29/03/2012 11:47

and the army will have delivered fresh supplies

IF the army get involved in this dispute, there will only be aonoted number of army tankers and qualified drivers, so they will probably be devoted to supplying emergency services rather than the local Texico.

If the army are used to provide non essential services during a legitimately called and balloted strike, it would severely comprise the non political nature of the army.

goingtoofast · 29/03/2012 11:47

My husband has for the first time ever got a job which he needs to drive too. It's an 80 mile trip everyday, he will need to fill up twice a week.

He only started on Monday so I hope the pumps don't run dry from people panic buying!

headfairy · 29/03/2012 11:51

compos, I'm in one of those professions who usually get petrol during strikes (we did last time anyway)

sherbetpips · 29/03/2012 11:52

argh there is no strike - they havent even voted to strike yet! The fuel shortage is being caused by people filling up when the dont need to. We the public have caused the panic whatever the stupid politicians say!

ReshapeWhileDamp · 29/03/2012 11:52

I know loads of people have to drive, so the following post isn't designed to enrange them or engender lots of Hmms - but from a purely personal and selfish POV, I'm a bit 'whatever' about the proposed strike. The weather over the last few days, combined with absurd prices for petrol, mean that I've been trying to use the car less recently. Have been walking more, trying to pick DS1 from preschool on foot, etc. I think we could all do with using cars less, just to see that it can be done. Smile

Plus, if it looks like there will be serious shortages over Easter, that will be a get-out-of-PIL-visit card for us! Grin They are a bit bonkers and I've not been looking forward to going up there for a couple of days.

Still, that's just us. The sky isn't going to fall on our heads if we can't use the car for a few days, but I know it'll be a mighty PITA for others. The current sheep mentality at the pumps is infuriating, because the tankers are still delivering and there has to be a week's notice of any strike. Hmm If you need to fill up this week and want to avoid queues, just do it at night, surely? Since deliveries haven't been affected yet.

HmmThinkingAboutIt · 29/03/2012 11:54

On a note about keeping mileage down, we bought a new car a couple of months ago. Its more efficient that our old one (which wasn't too bad though). The deal we got it on limits our annual mileage with penalties for going over so we have been carefully watching where we go and when. With a combination of better mpg and less miles we saved £130 running the car in the first month compared with the previous month with the old car where we didn't monitor or think about mileage.

Perhaps changing a few habits for a week, might make people think about their longer term habits and save them money long term.

Mopswerver · 29/03/2012 11:57

It's a particular problem for those of us in rural communities with no shop and no reliable regular bus service. We don't even have the option to cycle as it is so hilly where we live. I think we'll have to invest in some of those electric bicycles!

headfairy · 29/03/2012 11:59

I'm with you reshape... I barely use the car, and as you say as the weather's been better we've been walking everywhere. We've even looked at trains to get to my cousins wedding on Easter Saturday. It's not the end of the world. But I am fortunate enough to live on a good train line so I can get to work by train if necessary (don't finish work until 11pm hence why I usually drive)