Forums Forums National News Soldiers On Standby To Get Fuel To Pumps

Hundreds of soldiers are being lined up to stand in for fuel tanker drivers threatening industrial action next month.
The Army and police are on standby to ensure deliveries do not grind to a halt because of disputes over rising diesel and petrol prices.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said the Government stood "ready to act" if members of the Unite union go on strike.

The results of a strike ballot of 2,000 tanker drivers is expected later, with a view to begin the walkout from April 3.

Mr Maude appealed to the union and employers, including DHL and BP, to come to an agreement to avert industrial action.

But the Government has put in place contingency plans that could see soldiers being called in to drive tankers and police preventing blockades.

Mr Maude said: "We are calling on the trade union Unite and the employers involved to work together to reach an agreement that will avert industrial action.

"Widespread strike action affecting fuel supply at our supermarkets, garages and airports could cause disruption across the country.

"The general public should not and must not suffer from this dispute and strike action is manifestly not the answer.

"Although we are pushing for an agreement, we have learnt the lessons of the past and stand ready to act to minimise disruption to motorists, to industry and, in particular, to our emergency services, in the event of a strike."

Unite announced last month that it would ballot members working for seven major fuel distribution firms on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

The union warned that strikes could hit petrol supplies at supermarkets, garages and airports across the country.

The 2,000 drivers account for 90% of those supplying petrol to UK forecourts.

Unite said there had been "unrelenting attacks" on drivers' terms and conditions, adding that it had been trying to establish a forum to agree industry - wide best practice on issues like safety and training.

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16195757

All the stations ive gone past today have had queque and been jampacked, shell on hoylake rd moreton had a queque all the way down hoylake rd, upton shell had all unleaded tanks run dry about 8pm, shell hoylake rd where all dry about 8pm, i think people are stockpiling, people where filling there tanks and loads of cans in there boots

hopefully those drivers will get a perk, not fair them driving for buttons when these lot are on between 2 - 3 times as much

Read today that tanker drivers are only on on 45K for 37hours. The Unite Union strikes again, dinosaurs!

Is there a problem with a workforce being on 45K a year or is it only a problem if they are members of a Trade Union? Is there a further problem if members of a Trade Union see an erosion of safety in their own working conditions and environment raising a question?

I was not aware of the panic at the pumps in wirral. I have spent most of the time of the past week in manchester and I have seen no sign of it here. Do we have a lot more me me me types in wirral?.

Those stocking fuel at home should also be careful....

The Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles etc.) Regulations 1929 and the Petroleum Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulations 1982 limit the amount of petrol that can be kept in a domestic garage or within six metres of a building (e.g. most domestic driveways). The limit is a maximum of two suitable metal containers each of a maximum capacity of ten litres or two plastic containers (which have to be of an approved design) each of a maximum capacity of five litres. These limits also apply to any containers kept in a vehicle parked in the garage or on the driveway (but not to the internal fuel tank of the vehicle). Under no circumstances should the petrol containers be stored in the home itself.

I wonder what the punishment for storing fuel, like the goverment does is?

Probably a fine....

Although it does only mention if it is within 6 meters of the house. Further away than that and you might be ok

no fuel at tesco bidston and lots off ques at all stations

I recall that during a previous threat of fuel supply disruption, someone was fined for keeping a wheelie bin full of petrol in his house !!
Yes, a wheelie bin full ! I presume no one in the house smoked.

I have barely any petrol in my car at the moment, must be down to about 15 miles left. Been waiting for payday tomorrow to get some, now I don't know where I am going to get any thanks to all these idiots panic buying!!

Wish I was on 45K a year...not even on half of that, as for panic buying, if people bought normally, the pumps woldnt run dry, not every one can afford to fill there car and assorted cans every time they go past a petrol station....

Quite a few years ago when fuel was about £3 a gallon, a mate of mine had a garage in Cleveland st. A similar situation was in place as now, one particular woman I remember pulling in and asking my mate to fill her car up, he got about 53p in and he had a few coming in and only getting about a couple quids worth before the tanks were full. These idiots were sitting in a queue for 15 minutes before they got to the pumps. What he was forced to do was put a sign up, minimum of £10, He reckoned if you couldn't get £10 in you didn't need it. I think I remember Shell on Borough Rd doing it, only I think there's was a minimum of £20.

I read yesterday that crude oil prices are the lowest for six weeks. Today I passed one filling station that had put their prices up by two pence a litre overnight. Profiteering!

Mr Osbourne is a happy chappy though. I believe as of yesterday he has raised more than 56 million in tax above and beyond what they normally get. That is only within the last few days.

Makes you sick.