Tanker drivers strike averted after pay deal is agreed

A potential threat to deliveries of fuel to Texaco sites has been averted after tanker drivers employed by Wincanton on the Valero contract agreed to a new pay deal.

The 150 tanker drivers, who are members of the Unite union, deliver fuel to Texaco sites across the UK.

The drivers had voted for industrial action over a pay dispute, and strike dates were then set, at which point negotiations were held and a deal was brokered that Unite’s members accepted.

As part of the deal, tier one workers will receive a pay increase of 20.7% while those on tier two contracts will see their pay rates increase by 37.1%. The pay deal was designed to reduce the differential between the two groups of workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a huge pay victory which was achieved by our members showing complete unity and being prepared to take industrial action.

“This pay increase further underlines how Unite’s commitment to the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is paying substantial financial dividends.”

Unite national officer Tony Devlin said: “This is a significant pay increase in line with similar recent uplifts for other tanker drivers nationally. It further demonstrates that Unite’s strategy in the downstream oil distribution sector is delivering while the union continues to ensure that all tanker drivers receive a fair pay increase.”