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).

So petrol sales are up 45% that means that tax revenue on the petrol sales will also be up 45% this week - Cameron is not daft is he, he has just increased tax revenues and now if there isn't a strike announce until next week..well everyone will use the petrol and then panic again next week

Totally support this strikes despite being 28miles from hospital and having 2 DC's with complex needs. Cameron total twunt "fill up if you can but don't panic" Result Massive queues for petrol.

...and he's a double twunt 2old2 for letting his ministers suggest that people fill up and keep a can stored in their garage just in case.

Most people I know can't afford to fill the car up, let alone fill up a can for the garage (...are they assuming all car owners own a garage or a shed?).

Yet again the government have screwed the British people over.

I bet BQ and such places are doing a roaring trade in jerry cans!!!

How have they screwed anyone on this one? It's a dispute between employers and unions, and UNITE has joined employers at ACAS now.

Aside from Maude being spectacularly stupid, the Government seems to have been doing the right things (eg getting the Army on standby, probabl other emergency planning). And if you look at what Cameron has actually said - it's more along the lines of "there is no need to queue to fill your car up".

What was he mean to say? "Don't fill up"? He'd be hammered far worse for that. "You must fill up now" Again hammered for scaremongering. Going for the middle ground, as he did, really was the only option.

I've seen no commentary from Ed Miliband on this. Have I missed any statement?

I think all Ed Miliband has said so far is something about all parties involved must get round the table and talk to avoid major problems for general public, however I haven't seen any news this morning so he could of now said something more!

We usually run on 2/3 bars so yesterday we forfeited £60 to fill up. We live 7 miles from the closest town, 4 miles from the nearest shop and over 15 miles from the closest A&E. There is no bus service. There is now way we would risk not being able to drive our car.

I didn't think it was panic buying, just being sensible. From now on we can just pop £10/15 in to top up each week. Apparently it wasn't that busy at the petrol station. That was yesterday morning so maybe it's different now.

So petrol sales are up 45% that means that tax revenue on the petrol sales will also be up 45% this week - Cameron is not daft is he, he has just increased tax revenues and now if there isn't a strike announce until next week.

Yes this week he has....but then people will generally just fill up less the week after. So the govt have gained nothing really. Just moved the time they get the tax revenue.

I've filled my cars to the brim rather than put the usual £40-£50 in. Not sure if that means I've panicked but there you go.

But I'm not going to drive more just because I have more fuel in the tank so it just means that next week I won't go.

Just been to 2 garages - no fuel And I'm on orange, not panicking, just need some petrol.

niceguy - that was yesterdays figures - today petrol sales are up by 80% and what you suggest is only partly correct, this quarter will have a high figure meaning the figures are false for the end of the quarter and then we are into the new year on 6 April 2012 - well the new year for finance and figures etc

Not sure follow that ivykate. The figures will be artificially high and we know it?

80%? Wow! The BBC was putting it at 45% at lunchtime: what happened since then?

swedish - the first quarter ends at the end in April, this first quarter for selling is low as of Monday this week, which is normal as people tighten the belts after xmas and January is a low spend month - so growth is slow.

But now, the figures will be much higher as petrol sales have gone through the roof before the end of the first quarter.

meaning that it doesn't matter what petrol you use for the rest of the year the first quarter will look a better month for growth than the actual reality

Yes, ivykate, but we know why so, so what? It's a forced early artificial high. We can't use more fuel. I can't use any!

There will be no strike before Easter.
Good because I'm out of petrol (as are all of the garages around me).
Shameful behaviour by government. And irresponsible.

The government have behaved stupidly and now there is a shortage because they have told people to panic and stupid people have rushed out and filled up when they did not need to and this has caused a massive shortage of fule already.

If they strike then sack them all

Rabid - YABU. Have you actually read that safety is being compromised for these drivers? Have you any idea what actually driving one of these tankers entails?

Ivy, you missed my point. My point was about it being tax neutral overall because we dont use more fuel if we have it. It's not like I'll go for a drive because my tanks full.

Your point is more revolving around economic data which whilst valid, I hardly think was the rationale behind DC's thinking. I think he just didn't think through the sheep like mentality of the general public.

The problem now is that people with say half a tank will be thinking "I best fill up now or in 2-3 days there'll be none left and I'll be running out around then"

In actual fact since the drivers aren't going on strike before easter, let the muppets fill up now and when the replacement fuel comes and people have full cars, just fill up then.

rabid my exH was a tanker driver at one time and there is alot of training involved to ensure the safety of the general public, and believe you me you would not want to sack them and have any idiot with a hgv licence driving a tanker full of petrol!!

Those who've said there wont be a strike before Easter - is this just based on the 7 day rule? Presumably they could strike from Good Friday if they announced the date tomorrow?

Quite susiedaisy

Rules and regulations on the transportation of dangerous goods are strict, thorough and absolutely necessary. Training is essential.

Re 7 day rule - two sides are not meeting until Monday.

So we have gone from, not supporting the strikers and hoping the army does come in to help mobilise petrol tanks throughout the country (those who are in emergency will get first priority in this situation) vis a vis Monday, to now Thursday, there is no date for a strike, the government has engineered a panic buying situation and they are inept.

How, in the law of averages, did that happen? LOL . I bet the world leaders are watching this and well LOL .

I'm thinking DC must be trying a brave new strategy. Traditionally government seeks to reassure the populace. Dc is going a bold new way and trying as hard as possible to scare people witless. Tomorrow he'll give a press conference to demonstrate how to fill your OFRS whilst the idiot Maude gibbers in the background.