Peace talks tomorrow over tanker drivers’ dispute amid gridlock fear

Conciliation service Acas, which has held briefings with the Unite union and the seven distribution firms involved in the row, yesterday confirmed “substantive conciliation talks” would be held at an undisclosed location.

Unite, which would have to give seven days’ notice of any action, had said on Friday it would not be striking over Easter as it engaged with Acas.

Confirmation of the talks follows warnings from fuel lobby leaders who said they had formed an alliance with tanker drivers and planned to blockade refineries and cause gridlock around the UK in the event of any strike.

The dispute over terms and conditions and health and safety has been brewing for more than a year but flared up a week ago when the union announced workers in five of the firms had voted to strike.

The Government advised motorists to top up with fuel, leading to chaotic scenes at garages across the country as people queued to fill up.

New research found that three people in four believe the Government was responsible for causing unnecessary panic, following suggestions the public fill up jerry cans. Just 12 per cent believed Ministers handled the strike threat responsibly.

The chairman of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), which represents independent forecourt operators, has written to Energy Secretary Ed Davey to call for a discussion, claiming the “Government created a crisis out of a concern.”

Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey said yesterday: “We believe these matters can be resolved through meaningful negotiations.

“But to give these talks a chance of success, there must be an immediate end to mischievous briefing against the drivers.”