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Talks to resume in Shell dispute Talks to resume in Shell dispute
(about 6 hours later)
Talks in the pay dispute between haulage firms contracted to Shell and their striking tanker drivers are to resume on Monday. Talks in the pay dispute between haulage firms contracted to Shell and their tanker drivers, who began a strike on Friday, are to resume later.
The talks come as more than 600 petrol stations around Britain ran out of unleaded and diesel fuels. By Sunday, more than 600 of the 8,700 petrol stations around Britain had run 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 say they will hold a second four-day stoppage over 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. But the union Unite says there is ground for optimism, and the employers claim both sides have moved position.
The haulage companies say unions rejected a pay offer taking the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009. The strike, affecting England, Wales and Scotland, began on Friday when the earlier talks over pay broke down.
'Back at table'
The BBC's workplace correspondent, Martin Shankleman, said: "These new talks come just three days after the collapse of the previous negotiations, so the fact that they're being held at all gives grounds for fresh optimism".
Union officials have maintained informal contact with managers from the two haulage firms Hoyer and Suckling Transport, which are contracted to Shell.
The two sides in the dispute are due to meet at a secret location later.
The haulage companies have said unions rejected a pay offer taking the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009.
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 trickleIs your area affected?
However, Unite says the offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000.However, Unite says the offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000.
The workers are not due to return to work until 0600 BST on Tuesday, and have mounted picket lines at terminals and fuel sites across the country.The workers are not due to return to work until 0600 BST on Tuesday, and have mounted picket lines at terminals and fuel sites across the country.
'Back at table'
Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said both sides would be back at the negotiating table to try to end the dispute.Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said both sides would be back at the negotiating table to try to end the dispute.
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 trickleIs your area affected?
"We're hoping and we'll be working hard to try and conclude a satisfactory resolution to the dispute," he said."We're hoping and we'll be working hard to try and conclude a satisfactory resolution to the dispute," he said.
The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, which are contracted to Shell.
Bernie Holloway, a director of Hoyer, said: "We are pleased that this step forward has been made and will make every effort to draw these talks to a successful conclusion."Bernie Holloway, a director of Hoyer, said: "We are pleased that this step forward has been made and will make every effort to draw these talks to a successful conclusion."
Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%. James Smith, chairman of Shell UK - which runs an estimated one in 10 of the country's fuel stations - welcomed news that talks would start again.
James Smith, chairman of Shell UK, welcomed news that talks would start again.
Len McClusky: Talks are 'hopefully' good news
"I think what everyone hopes for is a good and fair settlement - and let's hope that's what we see tomorrow morning," he said."I think what everyone hopes for is a good and fair settlement - and let's hope that's what we see tomorrow morning," he said.
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 spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said. By Sunday afternoon, 647 petrol stations out of 8,700 in England, Scotland and Wales were out of the standard fuels, compared with 112 on Saturday, a spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said.
In Scotland, around 35 stations out of 960 either had no supplies or were without some types of fuel.
But the Petrol Retailers Association says motorists now know supplies will not run out.
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.