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| Tanker drivers' dispute: Acas invites oil firms and union to talks | Tanker drivers' dispute: Acas invites oil firms and union to talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The conciliation service Acas has invited oil firms and trade unions to talks aimed at averting a strike by tanker drivers that threatens to cause fuel shortages. | The conciliation service Acas has invited oil firms and trade unions to talks aimed at averting a strike by tanker drivers that threatens to cause fuel shortages. |
| The planned action by Unite members over pay and health and safety standards may lead to the biggest disruption in supplies since 2000. | The planned action by Unite members over pay and health and safety standards may lead to the biggest disruption in supplies since 2000. |
| The move by Acas follows a request by the energy secretary, Ed Davey, for conciliators to approach all sides to attempt to negotiate a settlement as the government prepares to train military personnel to drive the tankers and maintain deliveries if a strike happens. Davey also urged Unite to get round the table. | The move by Acas follows a request by the energy secretary, Ed Davey, for conciliators to approach all sides to attempt to negotiate a settlement as the government prepares to train military personnel to drive the tankers and maintain deliveries if a strike happens. Davey also urged Unite to get round the table. |
| David Cameron was expected to chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra on Wednesday afternoon to discuss contingency plans in the event of a strike. | |
| Workers in five of seven companies involved in the row over terms and conditions and safety standards have voted in favour of strikes, raising the threat of walkouts over the Easter weekend, when millions of families will take to the road for the first major holiday of the year. Other tanker drivers might not cross picket lines. The seven companies are responsible for 90% of supplies to forecourts. | |
| The shadow transport secretary, Maria Eagle, warned against panic fuel-buying after ministers increased pressure on the Unite union by urging motorists to be ready for a strike. | The shadow transport secretary, Maria Eagle, warned against panic fuel-buying after ministers increased pressure on the Unite union by urging motorists to be ready for a strike. |
| An Acas spokesman said: "We welcome the minister's suggestion about the parties responding positively to an invitation to come in to Acas. | An Acas spokesman said: "We welcome the minister's suggestion about the parties responding positively to an invitation to come in to Acas. |
| "We are establishing contact with all the parties involved in this dispute and will be looking to see whether we can enable an Acas process to allow the possibility of some form of dialogue to start. | "We are establishing contact with all the parties involved in this dispute and will be looking to see whether we can enable an Acas process to allow the possibility of some form of dialogue to start. |
| "Of course, take-up of Acas conciliation is voluntary and the parties themselves will determine whether they wish to respond positively to our invitation." | "Of course, take-up of Acas conciliation is voluntary and the parties themselves will determine whether they wish to respond positively to our invitation." |
| The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has said a strike should be avoided "at all costs" while Eagle condemned ministers for being "reckless" in their apparently "tough" stance, accusing them of scaremongering. | |
| A Number 10 spokeswoman said on Tuesday that people should look at their contingency plans "because, should there be a dispute, which is something obviously we want to avoid, then disruption is inevitable". | |
| She added: "Therefore people should look at their contingency plans and particularly businesses. The government is doing what it can in terms of contingencies, learning lessons from previous fuel disputes. | |
| "But our key messages to those people involved in this industrial dispute is get round the table again and talk and don't threaten the nation with economic and social disruption." | |
| Eagle, however, said: "It would be completely reckless of ministers to give the impression that people should be panic-buying. which, as the AA has rightly warned, could lead to shortages even while there is still an opportunity to resolve this dispute. | |
| "Instead of scaremongering, ministers should be focusing all of their efforts on getting both sides to negotiate to resolve the issues in dispute to avoid disruption to motorists and businesses." | |
| The AA also warned of the danger of panic-buying. Andrew Howard, an AA spokesman, said: "If people begin panic-buying we could well have shortages in fuel even before the strike. The average person buys petrol once a fortnight but if everybody goes out and buys it in, say, the three days leading up to strike action, that could be a problem." | |
| Unite represents around 2,000 drivers who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages as well as supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's. | Unite represents around 2,000 drivers who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages as well as supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's. |
| It has written to Davey setting out its case for minimum standards in the industry, covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy arrangements. | |
| Unite's assistant general secretary, Diana Holland, said in the letter: "We have been tireless in seeking talks to avoid industrial action, but we have been frustrated at every turn. | |
| "The government can help avoid confrontation by bringing to the table all the stakeholders in the downstream oil distribution sector – employers, oil companies, retailers and the trade union with an agreement to establish minimum standards in a timely fashion." | |
| In his response, Davey suggested a forum involving Unite and the main haulage companies should be reconvened. The companies have indicated that they are prepared to engage with the forum, which did discuss health and safety. |