The King and Queen are facing a cold Christmas due to December strikes by tanker drivers delivering fuel to Sandringham, union Unite claimed today (15 December).
Around 400 Certas tanker drivers are striking over a 2% pay offer, which is a real terms pay cut with the current rate of RPI inflation running at 4.3%, Unite said.
The drivers deliver petrol, diesel, heating oil and lubrication oil to clients across the UK, including the Royal Mail, the military, schools, hundreds of Gulf forecourts, Shell and Valvoline.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Certas drivers don’t expect to be treated like royalty, but they do expect a fair pay rise from their employer. Unite is backing them all the way during their strikes for a reasonable pay increase.”
Certas is based in Warrington, but the drivers are located across the UK as they pick up fuel from different oil refineries and deliver to clients across the country.
They will strike on 22 December, from 5 to 11 January and from 19 to 25 January. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved, the union warned.
Unite national officer Tony Devlin said: “The strikes will inevitably cause severe disruption for Certas’ clients but this is entirely the fault of the company for offering a pay cut dressed up as a rise.
“There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require a pay offer that is acceptable to our members.”
