Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, June 13 -- Hundreds of UK fuel tanker drivers began to strike in the early morning hours June 13 in protest about their wages after last-minute talks to resolve the dispute collapsed.
The drivers provide fuel to Royal Dutch Shell PLC's retail outlets. The strike is expected to affect 1 in 10 retail stations. However, there are growing fears that the dispute may also impact upon other retailers as the drivers plan to strike for 4 days (OGJ Online, June 10, 2008).
Unite, the union that represents the tanker drivers, said it was disappointed that Shell had failed to intervene in the dispute.
The government has urged motorists not to panic buy during this period with Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking the drivers and their employers, Hoyer UK Ltd. and Suckling Transport Ltd., to find a solution.
The drivers are seeking a 13% pay rise on top of their basic pay of £32,000/year because they feel it has not risen in real terms since 1992. They have rejected an offer of 7.3%.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].