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Talks to resume in Shell dispute Talks to resume in Shell dispute
(10 minutes later)
Fresh talks in the pay dispute between Shell and its striking tanker drivers will take place on Monday, the Unite union says. Fresh talks in the pay dispute between haulage firms contracted to Shell and their tanker drivers will take place on Monday, the Unite union says.
It comes as more petrol stations ran out of fuel, with just over 7% out of unleaded and diesel fuels.It comes as more petrol stations ran out of fuel, with just over 7% out of unleaded and diesel fuels.
The drivers are set to hold a second four-day stoppage next weekend if the dispute is not resolved.The drivers are set to hold a second four-day stoppage next weekend if the dispute is not resolved.
The strike, affecting England, Wales and Scotland, began on Friday when earlier talks over pay broke down.The strike, affecting England, Wales and Scotland, began on Friday when earlier talks over pay broke down.
The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, contracted to Shell.The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, contracted to Shell.
The 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 £36,000. The 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 £36,000. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7454799.stm">Rush to pumps is a trickle class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7453326.stm">Is your area affected?
Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%.
On Sunday, 647 petrol stations out of 8,700 in England, Scotland and Wales were out of the standard fuels, compared with 112 on Saturday, a government spokesman said.
Supply is reportedly tightest in south-west and north-west England and central Scotland.
• Texaco said it was "bearing up and coping" and that between 30 and 40 of its stations around the country had run out of some kind of fuel grade, most commonly either unleaded or petrol.
• Esso said some of its three fuel grades may have run out at some of its sites, but that it was working "round the clock" to keep up deliveries. It also asked for people to only buy what fuel they needed.
• BP said it did not have any major reports of fuel "stocking out" but that demand remained high and it was continuing to monitor the situation.
The Scottish government said figures north of the border showed fewer than 1% of filling stations had run dry and demand from consumers remained normal.
There have been reports of some patchy shortages of diesel on stretches on the A9. Sites in Inverness have also reported some shortages of diesel, while some forecourts in Aviemore are rationing sales to customers.
Petrol stations in parts of Wales saw some panic buying, with customers filling up jerry cans with fuel.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown had urged both sides of the dispute to resume negotiations, adding that contingency plans were in place to minimise the effects of the walkout.