A strike ballot was yesterday called by oil tanker drivers SCOTLAND faces the nightmare prospect of petrol shortages after a strike ballot was yesterday called by oil tanker drivers. The Unite union said balloting is likely next month in the row over pay, pensions and working conditions. It accused the industry of attacking drivers’ terms and conditions despite “astronomical” profits.UK NEWS
STRIKE THREAT TO FUEL SUPPLIES
Any strikes could send fuel prices skyrocketing and cause huge queues at the pumps, reviving memories of the fuel protests of 2000. Motorists already face record petrol prices while experts predict that the price of unleaded and diesel will soon smash through the £6 a gallon barrier.
The RAC said five tax hikes in the past year have cost the average motorist an extra £100.
Meanwhile, Ernst & Young’s Independent Treasury Economic Model (ITEM) Club warned that soaring fuel prices are costing the economy billions. The crude oil price per barrel is about $98 and rising.
The ITEM Club said that oil prices at $100 a barrel would dampen growth by 0.1 per cent this year and next, cutting economic activity by £163.3billion. And if oil hits $120 a barrel, the economy will take a hit equal to about 0.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
The pressure on David Cameron grew yesterday when two rival trucking organisations united in the fight against soaring fuel prices and taxes.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) joined forces with the FairFuelUK campaign to demand that a 1p-a-litre fuel duty increase planned for April to be axed.
RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning said: “The continuing rise in the price of fuel is a major threat to so many of our members. With margins already squeezed to unsustainable levels many of these firms are threatened with going out of business.”
It is feared the strike could see the return to scenes of panic buying, massive queues and tense standoffs at petrol stations, as seen across Scotland a decade ago. In April 2008 there was further disruption after industrial action at Grangemouth refinery, and two months later millions of motorists faced being left stranded again when tanker drivers walked out. Iain McMillan, director of CBI Scotland, said a strike by tanker drivers would be “extremely damaging” to Scotland’s economy, and warned the country would “grind to a halt”.
He said: “It is not good for consumers, and there are other ways to resolve this dispute.”
Theo de Pencier, of the FTA, said: “The situation regarding fuel is threatening the whole economy. So many people are suffering.” The RAC said that since January last year motorists have been hit by two VAT increases totalling 5 per cent and three fuel duty rises totalling 2.76p a litre. This has added an extra 8p to a litre of fuel – or £100 a year.
RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said: “An extra £100 a year is surely too much, especially as many family budgets are struggling during these difficult times.’
His comments came as Unite threatened strike action by oil tanker drivers. General Secretary-elect Len McCluskey said: “This is not an industry suffering like many others, the profits are astronomical. Employers have their heads in the sand if they think they can continue to attack these drivers’ terms and conditions.”
The Department for Energy and Climate Change said arrangements were in place to enable it to respond to a major fuel supply disruption.
Meanwhile, Mr Cameron yesterday floated the possibility of a fuel duty stabiliser to reduce volatility in pump prices for the March Budget. It would cut duty when oil prices rose and increase it when they fell. He said: “I want to give the motorist a fair deal.”
Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/223302/Strike-threat-to-fuel-suppliesStrike-threat-to-fuel-supplies#ixzz1BBadJKQG
Sunday, 16 January 2011
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