Union Votes In Favour Of UK Fuel Strike - Sky News

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5:57pm UK, Monday March 26, 2012

Mike McCarthy, North of England correspondent

Petrol tanker drivers have voted to go on strike, bringing the prospect of fuel shortages across Britain a step closer.

The Unite union, which represents the drivers, said its members voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action in a row over terms and conditions and safety.

Some 61.1% voted to press ahead with the walkout in the ballot.

Unite has warned that it could bring chaos to the country's forecourts within 48 hours of any action going ahead.

But the Government has vowed to keep fuel supplies flowing and ministers say they will use emergency powers to bring in the army.

It is expected that soldiers would be used to drive tankers and that the police will try to prevent blockades at oil refineries and distribution plants.

Fuel deliveries last ground to a halt in 2000, denting the reputation of Tony Blair's government.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said the Government had "learned the lessons" of the past.

Unite represents 2,000 petrol tanker drivers

Before the ballot result was announced he appealed to the union and employers to avert industrial action but said contingency plans were in place involving extra training for an estimated 300 soldiers over the next few weeks.

He said: "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."

Unite believes that cost-cutting by rich oil companies and contractors is putting the safety of its members at risk.

A spokesman for the union said: "Contracts chop and change every three to five years, bringing with each change a fresh assault on working conditions.

"They [oil companies] suck up the profits but are leaving a dangerous structural mess behind them."

The union has called on employers to help set up minimum standards covering training, health and safety.

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

The drivers who were balloted are from seven distributors - Wincanton, DHL, Hoyer, BP, J.W Suckling, Norbert Dentressangle and Turners.

Two of the companies did not vote in favour of strike action.