News
BP tanker drivers strike
With the walkout scheduled to last until 8am on Monday morning (25th February), Unite believes that the action will affect aviation supplies and BP forecourts across Scotland and north east England.
According to Unite, 90% of the 42 drivers balloted voted for strike action following the transfer of an aviation contract from BP to DHL. The union estimates that drivers could lose up to £100,000 from the value of their pensions and £1,400 a year in wages as a result.
A BP spokeman said: “Our priority remains the safe delivery of fuel products to all our customers. We have been working to, and continue to work to, minimise any potential disruption the industrial action planned for this weekend at Grangemouth could cause.”
Tony Trench, Unite’s regional industrial officer remarked: “It’s an outrage that BP, a multi-national giant which earns billions every year, is exploiting the UK’s weak employment laws to effectively swindle workers out of their retirement savings and future earnings.”
The union has announced a ban on overtime from Monday and if the dispute is not resolved quickly, a second four-day strike is scheduled for 28th February.