Cameron can put his moment of madness behind him by breaking UNITE's petrol strike

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The UNITE union (biggest donors to the Labour party) are threatening to hold the country to ransom ostensibly because of 'elf and safety, but really because they feel £45k isn't a good enough salary for a tanker driver.

Let's get the army driving those tankers, and break UNITE/McCluskey's bully boy tactics - the public will be foursquare behind you, Mr Cameron, and it will leave Red Ed dithering unable to answer the simple question: whose side are you on?

Has anyone considered investigating why the Unite workers are threatening to strike?

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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:

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:

Minimum standards for what?

It's an area which is legislated on: the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (as amended).

And I read on another site that pay is around £40k per year, pensions were being changed (possible a result of the chopping and changing).

I watched the film and I must say I am in two minds.

On the one hand naturally I want world class safety levels. I dont want to see exploding fuel trucks on our roads or idiots careering around with a lorry full of petrol, from A-B just to meet a deadline.

That said......whilst they say this dispute isn't about money, they repeat several times about pension changes and non-contracted drivers on less money.

So i guess it is a little to do with money....or actually from the sounds of things it's to maintain a cartel under the guise of health & safety.

This is essentially an argument over outsourcing. Drivers don't want it, the companies want to, to save money. As long as the contracts which have been issued have insisted upon the same standards of training and safety then I don't support the strike. If they've scrimped on safety & training then yes I'd cautiously support them.

claig - I am not sure that Richard Littlejohn is a heavy weight - perhaps lterally, certainly not intellectually!
What pisses me off about this is that you can be sure that the costs of any changes made to fuel delivery regulations will be passed onto the consumer - as if fuel wasn't expensive enough already. This will disproportionately affect the poorer in our society - something that those who support the strike should bear in mind. As mentioned £40-£45K is a very good salary to most and many of us in all walks of life are on short term contracts.
It will be interesting to see how Cameron handles this if/when it starts to bite. Also will be interested to see the had wringing contortions of Miliband over this (not supporting the strike but not against it either).

'claig - I am not sure that Richard Littlejohn is a heavy weight - perhaps lterally, certainly not intellectually!'

very good!!!

ttossca please don't cloud the issue by referring to your socialist 'facts' again. We're dealing with the real world here. Ever noticed how the 'real' world is always right-wing? Strange.
The rest of you - stop accusing octopi of evil-doing. Let us never forget the noble Paul (sadly deceased) of World Cup prediction fame. May his name be praised, peace be upon him. May he rest on a bed of lettuce with a nice marie rose sauce in peace.

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

I think if the Tanker Drivers strike they will play into Cameron's hands. I felt he was alarming the public today and so making the situation worse by stirring up public anger toward the Tanker Drivers. I also felt the BBC news was biased this evening. In the 6 o'clock news the BBC correspondent Emphasised the words '£45,000 a year' with a strong lilt to his words as though shocked that a mere driver could earn that amount! Why not, cos their not university educated?

Also what happens to those who are totally dependant on wheelchairs. We have 2 DC's hospital 29miles away. Mind you as myBOYS has said no nurses no point in going . But I back the strike.

2old
Yay! Me too!(wheelchair user)
Go strikers!

Presumably it isn't just nurses that would be eligible for the special passes - doctors would get them too?