Tanker drivers at Grangemouth oil refinery in Tayside, Scotland have started a 72-hour strike today in protest over changes to the terms and conditions of employees transporting aviation fuel.
The stoppage by the 42 BP tanker drivers could disrupt fuel deliveries to service station forecourts and airports across Scotland.
A Unite union spokesman said “not enough fuel to light a paraffin lamp” had left the refinery since the strike started at 4am Friday.
Unite said that 90% of those balloted voted in favour of the strike, although the changes only affect 15 drivers working on the aviation contract, which DHL is due to take over on 4 March.
The union said that under the proposed transfer arrangements these drivers would lose their final salary pension as well as share benefits worth £1,500 a year given to them by BP.
Under TUPE rules, shares and pension terms are not automatically transferred to the new provider.
An overtime ban will begin on Monday, but further talks between the union and BP are hoped to resume next week.
A BP spokesman said: “DHL do most of the deliveries for our aviation fuel in the UK so in January we awarded it a three year contract to manage the Grangemouth aviation work. We knew the strike was going to happen so have put contingency plans in place to minimise disruption to customers.”
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