Tanker driver pay deal averts fuel shortage threat in North West of England and Scottish Borders

Tanker drivers have called off strikes planned for this week that threatened to hit forecourts’ fuel supply across the North West of England and the Scottish Borders after securing an improved pay deal.

The Stanlow oil refinery-based drivers, who work for Hoyer, which has recently rebranded as Oxalis, voted to accept the deal after postponing threatened strike action last week.

All scheduled industrial action, planned for June 13-15 and expected to cause “significant disruption” to supplies to Shell, BP and Esso forecourts, has now been called off, says their union Unite.

As part of the deal, the 50 workers will receive a £2.02 an hour increase backdated to May 2023, as well as a £1 an hour fuel efficiency payment also backdated to May 2023. In addition, pay will increase by £1.99 an hour for 2024, backdated to February this year.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Congratulations to Oxalis’ Stanlow tanker drivers, who stood together for better pay and won. This is yet another example of how Unite’s unrelenting focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions is boosting our members’ incomes.”

A spokesperson for Oxalis Logistics said: “Oxalis were pleased to resolve the issue with the Stanlow-based drivers without unnecessary industrial action taking place. Whilst we were unable to increase the overall value of our pay over the final few months of negotiations, despite the threat of industrial action, we were able to satisfy our colleagues requests to redirect monies from one element of their pay to another. Most importantly, operations continued as normal and neither our customers or the general public were affected whatsoever.”