Tanker drivers: right or wrong?
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Over the past two months, tanker drivers and their beef with tanker operators have been awarded acres of press coverage. We asked
Trucking Britain respondents their thoughts. The majority feel no sym pathy for the drivers, but there follows a representative sample of opinions.
“Absolutely no sympathy for the tanker drivers, and I reject entirely their reasoning for strike action. It is politically motivated.” “An insult to other drivers.” “Annoyed. We subcontract for a large orange distribution company, our rates have been cut and pick ups have reduced. Tanker drivers are earning more than a oneor two-truck haulier can make. I do not have bargaining powers with anyone; they would just replace my vehicle with one of the many hauliers looking for work.” “Anybody looking to strike at this moment in time needs to look in the mirror: three million people are looking for work, millions have not had a decent pay rise, if one at all, in years. Tanker drivers have always been the RollsRoyce jobs, which every class 1 driver would die for. They should all just get round the table and sort it out without threatening strike action.” “I believe both sides have an argument here. Suppliers will be under financial pressure but nothing, nothing should compromise safety with such a volatile load. They should talk it through and resolve it, because the past few days show just how much Joe Public panics.” “Everyone needs a bit of security in life, even tanker drivers. Any erosion of job security, training programmes or pensions is unacceptable for everyone, not just the tanker drivers.” “Good for them: they are sticking together – unlike some fellow haul iers who agree to raise rates, but go behind backs and cut them further just to try and stay in business when, in fact, they are just speeding towards the inevitable end.” “Having spoken to numerous tanker drivers coming into us, they say there will not be a strike, so most of this is scare mongering.” “I am behind the tanker drivers and their dispute. This industry must be run by people who care, not by accountants.” “I feel they are holding a gun to our heads; we need a solid front going into the Olympics. The rest of the world will be watching.” “I fully support their right to strike and wish them the best of success. Hopefully, this strike will act as a catalyst in the industry and encourage the rest of us to stick our necks out more in the quest for a living wage and better working conditions.” “Sack the lot of them and let the drivers that work hard all day, every day, for less than £20k a year have their jobs.” “That’s what you get from too few and too large companies controlling the fuel tanker distribution market. The work should be bro ken up over time.” “The drivers’ concerns should be listened to by the government, instead of needlessly causing the public to panic.”