Strike action by tanker drivers working for Certas has been put on hold after the fuel supplier put forward an improved pay offer just in time for Christmas.
Industrial action was due to start today (22 December) but Certas confirmed that negotiations had reached “a positive milestone”.
It means the King and Queen can turn the heating up, as strikes would have affected supplies to the Sandringham estate.
Unite said workers will now be balloted on the new offer, but that if it was rejected then industrial action would kick in in the new year.
Around 400 Certas drivers threatened to stop working over a 2% pay offer, which they said was a real terms pay cut with the current rate of RPI inflation running at 4.3%.
The drivers also deliver petrol, diesel, heating oil and lubrication oil to clients across the UK, including the Royal Mail, the military, schools, Gulf forecourts, Shell and Valvoline.
Unite national officer Tony Devlin said: “Following an improved last-minute offer from the employer, strike action has been suspended as a gesture of goodwill. Our members will now be balloted on the revised offer.”
A Certas Energy spokesperson said: “Certas Energy is pleased to confirm that the driver pay negotiations reached a positive milestone and there will be no industrial action today, as previously proposed by the Unite union.
“We thank the union representatives and our drivers for their willingness to keep talking right up until the last minute to find a solution.
“Ultimately, this agreement means our customers across residential properties, farms, public services and businesses are not impacted during this critical time.”
