Last-ditch efforts were being made this week to avoid a strike by tanker drivers who deliver to Shell petrol stations. Talks were due to take place at the conciliation service ACAS between trade union Unite and representatives of Hoyer and Suckling Transport, the hauliers involved. Around 650 drivers are due to strike for four days from this Friday (13 June) in a dispute over their 2008 pay deal.
The drivers have been offered a 6.5% rise, an improvement on an earlier offer, but the union argues that they should get a rise of 13% in the light of what it describes as previous pay cuts. Unite national officer Ron Webb says: "It is time Shell intervened directly and stopped leaving the problem in the hands of its contractor. Shell makes over £1bn a month in profits and there is no excuse for allowing tanker drivers to be paid no more than they were getting 15 years ago."
Webb says that Shell/Hoyer tanker drivers are paid £32,000 a year, "roughly the same as they were in 1992", and that since Shell has contracted out the work many have seen their pay cut. In contrast, Hoyer and Suckling say their drivers have had above-inflation pay increases in recent years.
Bernie Holloway from Hoyer adds: "It's a great disappointment that the trade union has decided to reject the improved offer. We believe this is a very good offer and combines with previous pay awards to produce an overall increase in average earnings over the last four years totalling 27% - double the rate of inflation."
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