Petrol tank drivers in West Midlands vote for strike action in pay dispute
The disruption will affect Tesco garages up to Christmas Eve
Petrol tankers have voted to take industrial action across the West Midlands in a dispute over pay.
Over 20 different petrol tankers, who deliver fuel to forecourts across the region, will go on strike in the run up to Christmas from December 19th to 24th.
The drivers are currently contracted to XPO Bulk UK Ltd to deliver petrol to Tesco petrol stations across the West Midlands.
However, according to figures from the Unite union, tanker drivers in the West Midlands are reported to be earning as much as £11,000 a year less than their counterparts in other parts of the country.
Negotiations had been ongoing between XPO and the union, but talks eventually broke down - resulting in a ballot for industrial action.
Speaking on the decision to take strike action, Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said that petrol companies should be able to pay staff fairly.
"XPO is a massive multinational making nearly a billion dollars in profit last year yet feels the need to try and short-change our members in the West Midlands," she said.
"Unite won’t stand for it and if Tesco isn’t going to run out of petrol this Christmas then their supplier needs to come back with a pay offer acceptable to our members."
Regional officer Jason Richards added: "Our members just want a fair pay deal.
"They see colleagues doing exactly the same job in other parts of the country earning vastly more than they do and know that it isn’t right.
"XPO can easily afford a decent pay increase to our members who do a vital and skilled job delivering petrol to Tesco’s customers. They need to get back round the negotiating table before it’s too late."