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Unions see rosy horizons for tanker drivers
Page 10
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UNION LEADERS believe they are closer to achieving better pay and conditions for tanker drivers following an initial meeting with key players in the oil distribution industry.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for 31 January to thrash out ways of raising the drivers' status.
More than 30 representatives from authorised distributors, contractors and supermarket retailers as well as oil giants such as Shell and BP attended last month's meeting, which was chaired by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt. This followed threats of industrial action, including a blockade of oil refineries similar to the one mounted by fuel protesters in September,2001.
John Roscoe, chairman of the Transport & General Workers Union national oil trades delegates, says he was encouraged by the turn-out.
"I am optimistic that things are at last moving forward and that in itself is progress because our campaign started in October, 2003," he says.
"It has been painstakingly slow and I am pleased we have at last got round the table." A national forum to discus grievances has always been a ke: objective of the campaign.