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| Fuel strike over Easter ruled out by union | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Strike action over Easter by fuel tanker drivers has been ruled out by the Unite union. | |
| Motorists had been advised by the government to top up tanks ahead of a possible strike, which retailers said had led to "panic buying". | |
| Demand for petrol rose 172% on Thursday, and diesel by 77%, said independent retailers' body RMI Petrol. | |
| In York, a woman suffered 40% burns on Thursday when petrol ignited as she was decanting it in her kitchen. | |
| Queues formed at many petrol stations across the country on Thursday as demand for fuel rose. | Queues formed at many petrol stations across the country on Thursday as demand for fuel rose. |
| Some garages ran dry but retailers said they were coping and normal deliveries would ensure supplies were replenished. | Some garages ran dry but retailers said they were coping and normal deliveries would ensure supplies were replenished. |
| Some 90% of UK forecourts are supplied by the Unite union's 2,000 or so members at the centre of the dispute. | Some 90% of UK forecourts are supplied by the Unite union's 2,000 or so members at the centre of the dispute. |
| Unite's drivers, who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages and supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's, have called for minimum working conditions covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy. | Unite's drivers, who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages and supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's, have called for minimum working conditions covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy. |
| Conciliation service Acas says it hopes talks between employers and unions will take place shortly after Monday. | Conciliation service Acas says it hopes talks between employers and unions will take place shortly after Monday. |
| This makes Easter strikes unlikely because the unions have to give seven days' notice, correspondents say. | This makes Easter strikes unlikely because the unions have to give seven days' notice, correspondents say. |
| Anticipating a strike they describe as "completely wrong", ministers have called for motorists to keep their cars "topped up" but urged people not to queue. | Anticipating a strike they describe as "completely wrong", ministers have called for motorists to keep their cars "topped up" but urged people not to queue. |
| On Thursday, Energy Secretary Ed Davey advised that people "just need to do the sensible thing... get a full tank of petrol, not a half-tank". | |
| Downing Street has asked Mr Davey to meet hauliers on Friday to discuss plans in the event of a strike. | Downing Street has asked Mr Davey to meet hauliers on Friday to discuss plans in the event of a strike. |
| He told the BBC the talks were aimed at building "detailed and robust" contingency plans. | He told the BBC the talks were aimed at building "detailed and robust" contingency plans. |
| Mr Davey said one of the issues to be discussed would be ways to store fuel to ensure that emergency services had enough supplies in the event of industrial action. | Mr Davey said one of the issues to be discussed would be ways to store fuel to ensure that emergency services had enough supplies in the event of industrial action. |
| Earlier, a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said: "There will be no discussions on the dispute itself. That is an industrial matter, and it is for the employers and unions to resolve their issues by getting around the negotiating table and talking." | Earlier, a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said: "There will be no discussions on the dispute itself. That is an industrial matter, and it is for the employers and unions to resolve their issues by getting around the negotiating table and talking." |
| Brian Madderson, chairman of independent retailers' group RMI Petrol, accused ministers of "making a crisis out of a serious concern" and said they should have sought industry advice "weeks ago" on how to avoid fuel shortages. | Brian Madderson, chairman of independent retailers' group RMI Petrol, accused ministers of "making a crisis out of a serious concern" and said they should have sought industry advice "weeks ago" on how to avoid fuel shortages. |
| It said petrol sales had been up 81% on normal levels on Wednesday, with diesel up 43%. | It said petrol sales had been up 81% on normal levels on Wednesday, with diesel up 43%. |
| Teresa Sayers, chief executive of retailer group the Downstream Fuel Association, said increased demand had resulted in some UK garages running out of fuel. | Teresa Sayers, chief executive of retailer group the Downstream Fuel Association, said increased demand had resulted in some UK garages running out of fuel. |
| About 1,200 of the UK's 8,500 petrol stations are operated by supermarkets, with oil companies owning some 1,800. | About 1,200 of the UK's 8,500 petrol stations are operated by supermarkets, with oil companies owning some 1,800. |
| The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents around 5,500 garages, said: "This is exactly what we didn't want - people panic-buying." | The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents around 5,500 garages, said: "This is exactly what we didn't want - people panic-buying." |
| But Conservative Party co-chairman Baroness Warsi defended the government over its advice in the face of a possible strike. | But Conservative Party co-chairman Baroness Warsi defended the government over its advice in the face of a possible strike. |
| "I want a government that's prepared to say to people 'use your common sense and let's be resilient and make sure there's fuel built into the system'. | "I want a government that's prepared to say to people 'use your common sense and let's be resilient and make sure there's fuel built into the system'. |
| "I don't want a government that's sat on its hands, waits for the crisis to approach us and then looks like it's caught in the headlights," she said. | "I don't want a government that's sat on its hands, waits for the crisis to approach us and then looks like it's caught in the headlights," she said. |
| 'Shambles' accusation | 'Shambles' accusation |
| Acas said in a statement it had contacted both Unite officials and the contractors involved and was receiving more detailed briefings on issues underpinning the dispute. | Acas said in a statement it had contacted both Unite officials and the contractors involved and was receiving more detailed briefings on issues underpinning the dispute. |
| "This will enable us to determine more clearly the form substantive talks should take to provide the best opportunity for a negotiated settlement." | "This will enable us to determine more clearly the form substantive talks should take to provide the best opportunity for a negotiated settlement." |
| It said it hoped a format for talks would be fixed by Monday, with face-to-face discussions starting soon afterwards. | It said it hoped a format for talks would be fixed by Monday, with face-to-face discussions starting soon afterwards. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband called on Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for "presiding over a shambles" and accused the government of diverting attention from criticism of the Budget. | Labour leader Ed Miliband called on Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for "presiding over a shambles" and accused the government of diverting attention from criticism of the Budget. |
| Conservatives hit back at Labour for failing to condemn the stance of Unite - the party's biggest donor. | Conservatives hit back at Labour for failing to condemn the stance of Unite - the party's biggest donor. |
| Are you worried about the possible strike? Are you a tanker driver? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you worried about the possible strike? Are you a tanker driver? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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