Tanker drivers' strike

[EdithWeston]

They have voted for strike action.

No word yet on when, or for how long.

But the rumour mill suggests they may want to hit the Easter get-away, so it might be worth thinking ahead about what journeys you want to make so you can plan fuel needs (and perhaps minimise need for last-minute panic-buying, which presumably might make things worse).

Hope they bring in the army from day 1, I remember the last strikes & blockades. These drivers will have little sympathy - most of us out here are worse off than they are.

good on them I say- all the employers have to do is negotiate- Unite have been in talks since 2011 and got nowhere- its not about pay but basic term and conditions and safety concerns

the oil companies make enormous profits but have subcontracted the delivery and these contracts change every 3-5 years - the way the firms cut costs? , why they slash terms and conditions and health and safety so who pays?- the drivers who have shorter and shorter turn around times on deliveries which endangers H&S. Anyone remember Buncefield where the oil depot went up in flames? well the report afterwards made many recommendations concerning the coordination and responsibilities of contractors on workload, staffing levels
and health and safety.

dont blame the workers blame the greedy oil companies - put the blame where it belongs

Anyone know how many tankers the military actually owns now? (And has available for redeploying for this).

Or will they have to requisition privately owned ones?

As I said on the thread in Politics, let's hope Cameron has the guts to break this irresponsible strike. If he does, he could go a long way to restoring his reputation.

I've just seen thatthere's a thread in politics too -here, for anyone interested.

UNITE is a major Labour party donor, so Red Ed might be in a bit of a bind (again). I think Joe Public motorist might well lose out, with all sorts of consequences, if there were protracted action. I suspect military drivers will be focussed on keeping supplies running for essential users.

And what if it happens during the Olympics - a time when troops are already pretty heavily committed? (Has the threat of prison officers striking gone away?)

Could anyone elaborate on the safety issues. it's an area which is both legislated on and regulated.

I agree it's unlikely to be about pay - average is about £45k PA (according to BBC quoting one of the big employers).

Buncefield (2005) was caused by the ignition of a vapour cloud leaking from the storage tanks undetected. A switch shutting off supply failed to operate. Nothing to do with the conditions of drivers.

when i worked on a petrol forecourt a while ago, some of the drivers where complaining of

shorter times to do the deliveries, so if a delivery use to take 30 mins, it was cut down to say 20min,which meant they had to rush round with the threat of being sacked if they made a mistake

newer drivers were not recieving the same training as the older drivers.

being given more deliveries to do which could mean that the went over the hours they are allowed to drive for, which meant the driver were stuck then given a warning for not keeping to the times. it didn't matter if they were stuck in traffic or roads being closed. it was a case of this is what you have to do in this amount of time, no if buts or mabes

i fully support the strike

well said BlackOut

Interesting to see the Unite is a major Labour party donor theme again. Unite is a democratic organisation - if you don't like the policy or the leader, join and vote to change them.
Not sure how you'd change the policies of the Tory led Coalition. Cameron was elected on 35% of the vote. Who funds them? Can we vote to change the policies of the 'kitchen supper'donors? Maybe by buying shares in the company? Which no doubt pays full tax, no off-shore tax havens

These drivers are striking - not for more pay but due to safety conditions being put at stake. These safety conditions will put any motorway drivier more at risk as if one of these tankers was to crash - it would be deadly for all those aroudn the tanker.

Two M5 crashes in the last 4 months, if tankers are not going to be as safely driven due to lax safety regulations we all should be protesting as it could ultimately effect all our safety.

can you imagine the press if a tank was to crash and kill people - the first thing they would look at was the safety levels.. then the police would arrest and charge the driver

Fuel tanker drivers give their side of the story

26 March 2012

With the results of the oil tanker strike ballot just hours away, Unite, the country?s biggest union, has released a film to explain the issues surrounding this long-running dispute: youtu.be/AZidpiFbnTI

The film focuses on three Unite drivers who deliver fuel for a living. It highlights the changes to the industry which has seen contracts chop and change and drivers at the sharp end of the race to the bottom.

Strike action is not what the drivers want, but the industry?s failure to get to grips with the growing instability and fragmentation in its downstream operations is too risky to ignore.

For over a year the country?s biggest union Unite has been pushing the industry to establish minimum standards to protect the workers, the public and the supply of this vital commodity.

Unite national officer, Matt Draper, said: ?The film shows the dangers involved in delivering this highly volatile national commodity. The job isn?t for everyone and nor would we want just anyone to do it.

?The professionalism of tanker drivers is at stake. We should not accept a lowering of standards so that the oil companies can maximise their profits.

?Four of the top global oil companies posted combined profits of a staggering £106 billion in 2011. Yet, drivers are suffering a contract merry-go-round, with their working conditions under constant attack.?

ENDS

For more information, please contact Chantal Chegrinec, Unite campaigns officer, on 07774 146 777 or 0203 371 2063

Note to editors:

To view the film please visit: youtu.be/AZidpiFbnTI

Just walked down to tesco to get a few bits and it is mayhem down there with cars tooting and getting angry in the massive queue - out about 1/4 km to get petrol [shocked]

But apparently Cameron suggested everyone fills up with fuel

If you fill up now, when stations can still be supplied normally, it reduces the number of those who will need to fill up when a date is actually announced. It makes sense to spread the "panic", especially using this time to plan ahead. If people run their vehicles between full and half-empty (rather than half-full and empty), that will make a huge difference for the better come the time when petrol stations cannot get regular resupplies.

Any word on dates yet?

Well the panic has set in here, all 10 local-ish filling stations are out of petrol and only one has any diesel left...(well it did about an hour ago...)

Thank goodness I filled up at the end of last week, just as I usually do, when I get to 1/4 full, I always fill up again....

When the PM said "don't panic, but fill up your tanks" what did he think would happen?

I think It's a despicable attempt by Cameron and the Tories to make out the tanker drivers are 'holding the country to ransom'. they havent announced a strike but have won a ballot - they are saying they want talks - why arent the government asking the employers to discuss?

I heard ed davey on radio 4 yesterday - when he was asked to explain what the strike was about said he wasnt sure but then ranted on about the effect on the public- why doesnt a government minister understand what its about? Or does he and would rather myth and lies are peddled to the public?

and as for them saying today that people should keep a jerry can in the garage - its irresponsible - last time sheds blew up because people were stupid

Why do the Government need to urge the employers, when they are already round a table at ACAS?

It was Francis Maude who said about jerry cans, and the Fire Service has asked him to retract. I don't know if he has yet. But unless you have safe storage (and I should imagine most people don't) it is clearly too hazardous, and I cannot imagine why on earth Maude would say it.

Cameron was pretty stupid to say 'dont panic but fill up your tanks'. D'uh what did he think would happen!

Well the 3 petrol stations in my town have sold out already!

So much for not panic buying.

DH had a go at me on Monday because I filled his car up to the brim, rather than the usual "splash & dash". He should be thanking me!

any news yet about petrol for nurses?? I cant get to work without my car and last time I was able to get fuel if I showed my pass.

There are not enough of us at work already let alone if we cant get to work because of no fuel

Has a date been announced?

COBRA was reported to have met on this, so one hopes they have a cunning plan.

bonkers that's what I want to know I work in a hospital and need a car to get to work!!! Refuse to panic buy at the moment but drove passed garage earlier and it was very busy so feel a bit panicky now!!

And for the record BBC news saying that most tankers drivers earn £45,000 a year, bugger do they!! most who work for local firms around here earn around £25-£30,000 a year! at best!!

What actually constitutes "panic-buying" though? If I have 1/4 tank of fuel left and I would usually leave it to the weekend to fill up, am I panicking if I do so now, in case there's none to be had by the weekend?