rivers warn f fuel crisis pay row
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1IK Ian am' ye Tit f he a ns rke lch Po nd m i eeti io tnci ues t ion R drivers in the s are considering achich could mean second fuel shortage r, in support of their r a 33 per cent pay rise. en are demanding a eek basic wage and ort and General s Union tankermen's retary Geoff Parkes that the men have the of drivers nationwide. today (Friday) the to discuss the claim at g of the Oil Industries at Trade Delegate which will consider a from the Midlands make the claim a one. Mr Parkes said: "Now the Government had laid down this five per cent maximum, it's intolerable. The TUC has said that we will be returning to free collective bargaining.
"We want the freedom to enter into self-financing productivity deals," he added.
And if the men take action it seems likely that Britain could be plunged into a new fuel crisis more severe than the shortage which hit the country — or parts of it — in the early part of this year.
"I can foresee another situation like that—but this time it will be nationwide. We are fed up with being treated as second class, our wages' have been held back since 1974 with curtailed shift payments and no increases in overtime money," said Mr Parkes.
The men are also looking for concessions on fuel prices for their own use but Mr Parkes conceded that this claim is rife with difficulties involving customs procedures and duty payments.
"We will be content to get the money sorted out this time," he said.
"With this five per cent barrier it seems that we are supporting a government that is out to cut our throats," said Mr Parkes.