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Fuel strike begins to hit supply Fuel strike begins to hit supply
(about 2 hours later)
A strike by hundreds of Shell tanker drivers has begun to hit fuel supply in parts of England, Wales and Scotland.A strike by hundreds of Shell tanker drivers has begun to hit fuel supply in parts of England, Wales and Scotland.
Demand was up 25% entering the strike's second day, although only just over 1% of petrol stations have closed because of shortages, the government says. On the second day of the walkout over pay, demand for fuel was up 25% and more than 100 stations closed because of shortages, the government said.
BBC News website readers have reported supply problems in Leicester, Cambridge, the Wirral, Cornwall, and parts of Scotland and Wales. Shell said fewer than 15% of its sites had been affected but warned continued action could have a "significant impact" on supply at forecourts.
Go-slow fuel protests have taken place on the M6, M56 and in the New Forest. Unions said drivers would walk out again if the dispute was not resolved.
During the day of action over fuel, 100 vehicles set off on the M6 under police escort from Lymm Services at Warrington, Cheshire, to Carnforth in Lancashire, as part of separate demonstrations over rising prices. Unite joint leader Tony Woodley told the BBC there would be another strike next weekend and, if necessary, a third strike after that.
A further 50 vehicles departed from north Wales along the A55 and the M56 towards Shell's Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire. "This dispute will go on until such times as our members have pay justices, so that our members don't have to keep working long and unsocial hours putting themselves at risk on the motorways of Britain, and at the same time putting the general public at risk."
It's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying Ray HollowayPetrol Retailers' Association Rush to pumps is a trickle THE SHELL PAY STRIKE The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, contracted to ShellIndustrial action began when pay talks broke down this weekThe companies say unions rejected a pay offer taking the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009 But the Unite union says the offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000The drivers are planning a second four-day stoppage next week if the dispute is not settled Rush to pumps is a trickle
In the south of the country, a convoy of farmers and lorry drivers at Stoney Cross in Hampshire also crawled towards junction 1 of the M27. A spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform confirmed demand for fuel at forecourts had gone up by 25% between Friday and Saturday lunchtimes.
Shell earlier said that, although its sales remained high on the second day of the strike, they were not at extreme levels. It also said there was no evidence of panic buying, with only a "handful" of stations actually running out. He said supply was tightest in south-west and north-west England and central Scotland.
The company added that its contingency plans had so far worked well, but warned that the situation may change over the next two days.
Shell drivers have warned their employers they may strike again next weekend.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform confirmed demand for fuel at forecourts had gone up by 25% between Friday and Saturday lunchtimes and supply was tightest in south west and north west England and central Scotland.
At noon on Saturday, some 112 out of 8,900 petrol stations - just over 1% - had been forced to close, he added.At noon on Saturday, some 112 out of 8,900 petrol stations - just over 1% - had been forced to close, he added.
A spokeswoman for Shell said by late Saturday afternoon, fewer than 15% of the company's sites had experienced disruption but added that the four-day pay strikes could have a "significant impact".
"Sales remain high but are not at extreme levels, and there are still few signs of panic buying," she said.
"As the strike continues, it is inevitable that in time, there will be a significant impact on our petrol stations."
The company added that 99% of all petrol stations across the UK - not just those run by Shell - remained unaffected by the strike.
Diesel problemsDiesel problems
A number of petrol stations in the Strathspey area of Scotland, along the A9, are reporting that they have run out of diesel.A number of petrol stations in the Strathspey area of Scotland, along the A9, are reporting that they have run out of diesel.
In particular, garages in Aviemore and Newtonmore have run out and one site has started rationing. One service station manager in Ayr has also reported he has run out of diesel.In particular, garages in Aviemore and Newtonmore have run out and one site has started rationing. One service station manager in Ayr has also reported he has run out of diesel.
On the picket line: Drivers are looking for higher pay Lorry convoy in M6 fuel protestTractors in fuel protest go-slowSend us your commentsOn the picket line: Drivers are looking for higher pay Lorry convoy in M6 fuel protestTractors in fuel protest go-slowSend us your comments
A number of sites in Glasgow report that trade is brisk - but so far shortages are limited.A number of sites in Glasgow report that trade is brisk - but so far shortages are limited.
Members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website to report fuel queues and some stations running out, in such areas as Leicester, Cambridge and the Wirral.
There were also shortages reported in St Austell, Cornwall, and in Stoke-on-Trent.
A handful of petrol stations in Wales have also run out of fuel, but many stations in the south Wales area say they are currently well stocked.A handful of petrol stations in Wales have also run out of fuel, but many stations in the south Wales area say they are currently well stocked.
However, major retailers have told the BBC that their deliveries have so far been largely unaffected:
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  • Sainsbury's said its Friday morning deliveries had not been disrupted and confirmed it had a good supply of fuel.
  • Texaco said it had seen a slight increase in fuel sales but that none of its forecourts had reported running out of supplies.
  • BP said it still had good stocks of fuel and that most of its drivers were working as normal.
  • Esso said its terminals were open and drivers were leaving to deliver fuel "as normal". It also said that its customers were currently buying fuel in normal amounts.
 Members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website to report fuel queues and some stations running out, in areas including Leicester, Cambridge and the Wirral.
There were also shortages reported in St Austell, Cornwall, and in Stoke-on-Trent.
However, major retailers have told the BBC that their deliveries have so far been largely unaffected:
  • Tesco said some drivers had changed their normal buying habits, emptying pumps faster than it could fill them. However, "outstocks" had been short-lived, it added.
  • Morrisons said its stations had seen high demand during the past week and additional deliveries were being made to their forecourts.
  • BP said while sales were high on Friday, Saturday sales were the same as on a normal Saturday.
  • Esso said it was doing all that it could to maximise supplies to its stations. It asked motorists to stick to normal buying patterns.
Nick Vandervell, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association which represents Shell and the other major petrol suppliers, told BBC Five Live that some service stations had run out of fuel, but the situation was patchy.Nick Vandervell, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association which represents Shell and the other major petrol suppliers, told BBC Five Live that some service stations had run out of fuel, but the situation was patchy.
The scene at Kingsbury oil depotThe scene at Kingsbury oil depot
"We have had reports that locally there are some problems, but essentially what our members' companies will be doing is working over the weekend to try and make sure that those sites are re-supplied and in some cases that may well involve re-supply from terminals or depots where there isn't picketing action.""We have had reports that locally there are some problems, but essentially what our members' companies will be doing is working over the weekend to try and make sure that those sites are re-supplied and in some cases that may well involve re-supply from terminals or depots where there isn't picketing action."
But Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told the BBC the situation was under control.But Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told the BBC the situation was under control.
"Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England, generally speaking it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying," he said."Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England, generally speaking it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying," he said.
Pay talks During a day of action over fuel, go-slow protests also took place on the M6, M56 and in the New Forest.
Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%. Lorry drivers and farmers were among those taking part in the protests over the rising cost of fuel.
The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, who are contracted to deliver fuel to those Shell forecourts. Pay offer
Shell UK boss James Smith on the strikeShell UK boss James Smith on the strike
The industrial action began when pay talks broke down earlier this week. Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%.
Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, say unions rejected a pay offer which would take the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009. The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, contracted to Shell.
But a Unite union spokesman argued that the company's offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. He said the companies' £41,500 figure could only be reached if possible overtime was included. Industrial action began when pay talks broke down earlier this week, with the companies saying unions rejected a pay offer taking the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009.
The union representing them has renewed its calls for Shell, who outsourced tanker deliveries to external firms, to get involved in the negotiations to try and resolve the dispute. But the Unite union says the offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000.
A number of tanker drivers working for other petrol retailers have refused to cross the picket lines at oil depots.