Tanker drivers' conditions 'eroded' (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Tanker drivers' conditions 'eroded'

8:05am Monday 2nd April 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

The union representing fuel tanker drivers has claimed their working conditions had been "eroded", ahead of peace talks to avoid strike action.

The Unite union and fuel distributors are expected to meet later this week to resolve a threatened strike by tanker drivers, which prompted widespread panic buying of petrol and diesel.

The talks will come after the Government was forced to defend its handling of the threatened strike following fierce criticism.

Speaking to ITV's Daybreak, Unite's assistant general secretary Diana Holland said: "Everybody involved on behalf of Unite, the trade union members, and the oil tanker drivers, is saying we want a negotiated settlement. That won't happen without all parties coming together.

"This industry used to be one run by the oil companies alone. Over the years it's been contracted out to other companies and the conditions and the terms were kept pretty solidly at the beginning. But over the years they have become eroded and eroded."

She added: "This is not a new issue. We have been alerting the Government all the way along. The people that are on the best conditions, the best rates of pay and the best training - we want to keep that for them.

"We want to put a floor in, under which no-one can fall. When the contract negotiations take place, we want the oil companies, the retailers, and the distribution companies to say no-one will fall below this standard."

The latest Government advice to motorists is that there is "no urgency to top up your tank".

Downing Street said the advice had changed following Unite's statement confirming that it would not strike over Easter. Asked if David Cameron had full confidence in Cabinet Minister Francis Maude following last week's panic buying, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Yes."

When pressed over whether Mr Maude remained the lead minister dealing with the issue, the spokesman said he was "in charge" of the part of the Cabinet Office that deals with civil contingencies but the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was the "lead department".