Haulage bosses from six fuel distribution firms are due to resume talks with the Unite union this morning (10 April) following the Easter weekend.
Conciliation service Acas is leading the discussions, which kicked off last Wednesday (4 April) and continued for two days, over tanker drivers’ training, safety and employment conditions.
Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood says of the talks so far: “The discussions have been constructive, with the parties positively engaged and committed to the process.”
If talks fail, any industrial action would need to take place by 23 April and Unite would need to give seven days’ notice of any planned strike.
The talks follow a majority vote for national strike action announced on 26 March from Unite tanker drivers, which supply fuel to around 90% of UK fuel courts - about 7,900 petrol stations.
Firms involved in the talks include Norbert Dentressangle, Wincanton, Turners (Soham), Hoyer, BP and DHL (which voted against strike action). It is understood that Suckling Transport, which also voted against strike action, is not attending the Acas talks.
