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Talks due as fuel strike finishes | Talks due as fuel strike finishes |
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A four-day strike by tanker drivers working for Shell has ended but another is planned for later this week if talks fail to settle the dispute. | A four-day strike by tanker drivers working for Shell has ended but another is planned for later this week if talks fail to settle the dispute. |
The stoppage, which started on Friday, has led to hundreds of petrol stations across Britain running out of fuel. | The stoppage, which started on Friday, has led to hundreds of petrol stations across Britain running out of fuel. |
It involved drivers working for two haulage firms contracted to Shell. | It involved drivers working for two haulage firms contracted to Shell. |
Talks between the two sides are set to resume on Tuesday. Another four-day strike will start on Friday if no deal is reached in the pay dispute. | |
The haulage companies - Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport - said unions had rejected a pay offer which would have taken the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009. | The haulage companies - Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport - said unions had rejected a pay offer which would have taken the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009. |
However, the Unite union says that excluding overtime, the offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. | However, the Unite union says that excluding overtime, the offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. |
There is still no sign of a resolution to the strike, despite another round of negotiations, which adjourned on Monday evening. | There is still no sign of a resolution to the strike, despite another round of negotiations, which adjourned on Monday evening. |
It is understood that the two sides have edged closer, but there is still not enough common ground to secure a settlement. | It is understood that the two sides have edged closer, but there is still not enough common ground to secure a settlement. |
If an agreement is not reached, the end of the strike will be followed by only a brief chance to replenish stocks, with the next strike set to start on Friday and to last for four days. | If an agreement is not reached, the end of the strike will be followed by only a brief chance to replenish stocks, with the next strike set to start on Friday and to last for four days. |
£1.99 a litre | £1.99 a litre |
More than 600 of all the 8,700 petrol stations in the UK had run out of unleaded and diesel fuels by Monday lunchtime. | More than 600 of all the 8,700 petrol stations in the UK had run out of unleaded and diesel fuels by Monday lunchtime. |
Shell said about a fifth of its outlets had run dry. | Shell said about a fifth of its outlets had run dry. |
The south-west of England, Cardiff and parts of London and the West Midlands have been particularly badly hit. | The south-west of England, Cardiff and parts of London and the West Midlands have been particularly badly hit. |
One Devon petrol station has begun charging £1.99 a litre - more than £9 a gallon - for unleaded and diesel, as about 400 forecourts in the county suffered dwindlng supplies. | One Devon petrol station has begun charging £1.99 a litre - more than £9 a gallon - for unleaded and diesel, as about 400 forecourts in the county suffered dwindlng supplies. |