Wincanton laments “unnecessary” strike
January 24th 2012 Chris Kingshott, Wincanton’s managing director for manufacturing described Unite the Union led strikes by tanker drivers as “wholly unnecessary”.
80 fuel tanker drivers at Wincanton started a week-long walkout today at the ABP Immingham Docks protesting about changes to their pay and working conditions. The drivers are contracted to work for ConocoPhillips. The tankers supply Jet forecourts.
“We do not understand why this strike is happening,” said Kingshott.
“We have always had the same objective as our drivers – to extend the current contract and provide them with job security.
“We started exploratory discussions with our drivers in June 2011 to establish how we could move to more flexible terms and conditions in order to deliver a market-competitive service to our customer and secure an extension of the contract when it expires. There was never any question that Wincanton would implement new terms and conditions without mutual agreement. These discussions were derailed by Unite, who forced a ballot for industrial action.”
This strike could create significant disruption for road-users and fuel retailers.
Unite said Wincanton proposes to slash pay by up to 20 per cent and downgrade workers' pensions.
Unite national officer Matt Draper said: “The frustration expressed by Wincanton’s oil tanker drivers can be seen right across the sector. Drivers are under increasing strain, working in a very unstable industry with pressure to deliver fuel round the clock, but where terms and conditions are being slashed.
"It’s time the major players stopped riding roughshod over the drivers. Only minimum standards can ensure that the dangerous job of delivering fuel is undertaken by highly skilled drivers. These drivers criss-cross the country delivering up to 38,000 litres of petrol at any one time, the risks are huge but the thanks they get is an attack on their livelihoods.
“Wincanton and ConocoPhillips hold the key to resolving the dispute. They need to get round the table with us to solve this before this instability spreads.” More articles from Wincanton: | 
