P&•0 drivers hold suite vote
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• Oil tanker drivers working in the spot affreightment division of P&O Trans European are to vote on whether to take strike action over changes to drivers' pay and conditions which unions say will cut pay by up to £5,000.
Over one hundred drivers, based at Ellesmere Port, West Thurrock, Billingham, Hull, Felling and Stallingborough will receive ballot papers next week from the Transport & General Workers Union which has been conducting protracted talks with the company A decision to ballot the drivers who deliver fuel to independent petrol retailers across the country, was arrived at after the company walked out of talks at the arbitration service ACAS last month.
According to P&O's general manager of per sonnel, Jackie Fraser-Smith, the company is responding to a request by the union to standardise pay and conditions across its eight depots.
"We made it clear that we would not be able to increase the overall wage bill—some drivers are currently better paid than others, and as such there will be winners and losers in such a move.
"However, we maintain that productivity bonuses will mean that no driver is worse off under the new arrangements," she says.
However, the T&,G national secretary for transport, Ron Webb, warns: "Oil is a dangerous load. The T&G is concerned that the new payments scheme may force drivers to cut corners on health and safety to earn a living wage."
The ballot, which will offer the choice of strike action, or action short of a strike, comes as the union waits to find out the result of an earlier ballot of Conoco drivers (CM 26 JulylAug).