| The dispute, which has kept Jet fuel trucks standing idle for the past three days, is set to intensify, Unite the union said today (Thursday 26 January) The union said that it has now given the employer, Wincanton notice of a further seven days of strike action, beginning on Thursday 2 February. Unless the employer gets back round the table, Unite is warning that it will halt Jet oil tankers for 14 consecutive days. The current seven-day strike has hit three of the UK’s major oil terminals and deliveries to Jet's 381 petrol forecourts. The dispute is over Wincanton’s attack on the drivers’ pensions and terms and conditions. Wincanton’s 123 oil tanker drivers, working on the ConocoPhillips contract, walked off the job at 5.00am on Tuesday 24 January in a determined bid to stop the Texas-based oil giant from forcing down their terms and conditions. Yesterday, (Wednesday 25 January) ConocoPhillips reported a colossal 70 per cent surge in fourth quarter profits to reach $3.4 billion. The union says that ConocoPhillips could well afford to pay Wincanton a fair rate for the job, saying that it holds the key to settling the dispute. Matt Draper, Unite national officer, said: “Despite the union’s repeated attempts in the last few days to resolve the dispute, the employer, Wincanton, has so far failed to honour its promise to return with a form of words that we can move forward on. We have no other option but to extend this strike for another seven days in a further attempt to get the employer to see sense. “The company is dragging its feet and it is fairly clear that ConocoPhillips is calling the shots. It is absolutely mindboggling that a company as profitable as ConocoPhillips could turn its back on the drivers who deliver its fuel safely and on time. “ConocoPhillips could easily afford to pay the drivers’ employer, Wincanton, a fair rate for the contract, instead it would rather shrug off the duty it has to these drivers. “The strike is solid and will re-start on Thursday 2 February and end on Thursday 9 February, unless a resolution can be reached. It won’t be long before the action hits fuel supplies at Jet forecourts.” ENDS For further information contact Chantal Chegrinec, Unite campaigns officer, on 07774 146 777 or the Unite press office on 020 3371 2065. Notes to editors: Picket locations: 1.ABP Immingham Docks, Immingham, North East Lincolnshire DN40 2.Kingsbury oil terminal, Warwickshire Trinity Road, Kingsbury, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 2EH 3.Stockton-on-Tees in the north east. |