United Transport in BP strike threat
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by Karen Miles • United Transport drivers on the company's BP contract are threatening a series of 24-hour strikes, just a month after taking over the deal.
Up to 100 tanker drivers delivering BP products in Scotland, the North of England and the Midlands plan to strike on Monday 4 November, Friday 8 November and Monday 11 November. They have also banned overtime. The action follows a ballot in which 83 of the drivers voted in favour of action with just six against.
The Transport and General Workers Union says the drivers are objecting to United Transport taking on new drivers at .1:1.25 an hour less than the 92 who transferred from the previous contractor, P&O Roadtankers. Most drivers are based at BP's terminal at Grangemouth in Scotland.
The union wants a guarantee that the "spirit" of the European Union's 1981 Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment regulations will be applied so that all drivers on the five-year BP contract will receive at least the same pay and conditions that were offered by P&O.
TGWU national secretary Danny Bryan says: "Seeing the strength of the drivers' feelings, I hope the company will now come to their senses."
United Transport says it is "disappointed" at the threat of strike action just weeks into the new contract; it says it is not obliged to pay new staff at the old rate.