Fuel strike disruption continues as peace talks resume

Shell tanker drivers were due to return to work at 6am tomorrow (Tuesday, June 17) following a four-day strike.

However, the drivers, who work for two companies contracted to the oil company, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, are due to walkout again for four days in pursuit of a pay rise on Friday (June 20).

Reports from around the UK indicated that around 650 fuel stations had run dry, including 249 Shell garages, according to the Department for Business, Employment and Regulatory Reform. There are around 9,000 forecourts in Britain.

A Devon petrol station is reportedly charging drivers more than £9 a gallon for petrol and diesel as drivers clamour for fuel. The Foxhayes station at Exwick near Exeter has put all grades of petrol and diesel up to £1.99 a litre. The manager said the move was to conserve stocks and said he was not being mean.

Negotiations between the employers and the tanker drivers’ trade union, Unite, restarted today (Monday, June 16) with both sides hinting that a breakthrough was possible. However, the talks broke up without any agreement, but will resume tomorrow. Unite, the union representing the drivers, called the talks ‘helpful’.

During the weekend, Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged both sides of the dispute to resume negotiations, adding that contingency plans were in place to minimise the effects of the walkout.

Meanwile, motorists have reported confusion at the pumps over supplies and have complained about poor signing. Many motorists are driving on and off forecourts as it is unclear what fuel is available. Many stations have just put signs on the individual pumps which cannot be seen from the road.

AA president Edmund King said: “We would like to see clearer signing at the garages as it is not always clear that pumps have run dry and motorists are wasting precious fuel by entering the forecourts.

“If there is another four day strike the implications would be worse as it will take longer to restock all garages across the country.

“Generally, motorists have acted sensibly and didn’t rush to the pumps. The high cost of fuel was also a factor in that many families can’t afford to fill up due to record prices at the pumps.”

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