Petrol tanker drivers to go on strike

Nothing will come from it (from the government), except widespread disruption (obviously they know/want that).

Unite believes that cost-cutting by rich oil companies and contractors is putting the safety of its members at risk.
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I thought the strikes were due to rising fuel costs? :confused:
 
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They've been traing the army to drive the tankers, that plus the fact you can no longer legally blockade the refineries means it shouldn't be a big problem, other than people causing shortages by panic buying.
 
Ricochet J said:
Nothing will come from it (from the government), except widespread disruption (obviously they know/want that).



I thought the strikes were due to rising fuel costs? :confused:
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Nope. Health and Safety and training. The drivers don;t like their new terms.

Wages are fine on £45,000 per annum so not about pay for a change.

A statement from Unite said: "Tanker drivers work in an increasingly fragmented and pressurised industry, where corners are being cut on safety and training in a bid to squeeze profits and win contracts.

"Drivers face growing job insecurity as a result of the contract 'merry-go-round' and a 'beat the clock' culture has flourished, with drivers forced to meet ever shorter delivery deadlines.
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[TW]Fox;21558036 said:
Poor tanker drivers, they are so hard done by :(
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Whilst I agree their wages are very good, it's not as simple as that. Most industrial disputes never are on face value until you dig deeper. ;)

A dispute would certainly cause problems for motorists, fortunately as happened the last time there were fuel shortages I was lucky enough to be fairly unaffected being an essential worker. :cool:

At the moment there are very few ADR drivers available from the forces when current overseas deployments are taken into consideration. Less than 300 as far as I'm led to believe. And unless they requisition the tanker company vehicles ( which of course they will if required ), the military have very few fuel tankers available. Essentially the government saying "Ok, go ahead and strike, we can cover for it" is a statement that should be taken with a few grains of salt.
 
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Panic buying started on Sunday, Shell garage near me was dry this morning, then lunchtime today the local supermarket station had a reasonable que forming, which was a major problem for myself since i only had 10 miles worth left in my tank, so i had little choice but to join in before they sold out and i couldn't get home!

Other people make me :rolleyes:
 
My mother called me to say she had just gone to fill up and didn't understand why the queue was out to the main road. She asked at the counter and was told there was a fuel strike. I suggested she pop into the supermarket and buy tinned food and a shotgun :)

You know that refinery blockades are now illegal - what exactly would happen if say a 100 protestors just camped out at Milford Haven for instance? They'd get arrested and charged under the terrorism act I guess. How much of a big deal is that? Prison time? Alright you have to admit it on a job app but if you explained why it might not mean you are overlooked.
 
EddScott said:
You know that refinery blockades are now illegal - what exactly would happen if say a 100 protestors just camped out at Milford Haven for instance?
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They won't be "blockading" refineries though. If the union membership do return a "Yes" in a ballot for strike action, there will be legitimate picket lines in place which is completely different from a blockade.
 
When are they going on strike?

Unfortunately it will change nothing but result in petrol prices going even higher. The worst timing since I have a really long commute for the next 2-3 months.
 
I'm unconvinced this will go anywhere (pardon the out of fuel pun!)

Chatting with other drivers as I do in truckstops, distribution centres etc etc etc there is little if any support for the tanker lads, anybody remember the Hoyer pay deal a few years back?

Most are on a damn good screw & know it!

Given the number of HGV drivers out of work at present, many with ADR licences, I doubt the army would be needed - that just sounds like Daily Fail speak imo, I know of experienced lads made redundant from my own employers who can't find work, months after their redundancys.

Unite & the tanker drivers need to think hard, very hard, which of course, they have not!

Time will tell, we shall see, I'm not holding my breath, nor panic buying fuel!
 
Great sounds like I'll be using my bike to get about this week. Wait...that's a good thing!

Can't believe they get £45k...doesn't seem in line with what regular HGV drivers get?

What's that £15-20k Risk money?
 
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