This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/23/fuel-dispute-union-considerable-movement-agreement
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fuel dispute: union warns 'considerable movement' needed to reach deal | Fuel dispute: union warns 'considerable movement' needed to reach deal |
| (12 months later) | |
| The Unite trade union and fuel distributors will attempt to thrash out a peace deal over the next 48 hours, as a senior shop steward warned that "considerable movement" is needed to reach an agreement. | The Unite trade union and fuel distributors will attempt to thrash out a peace deal over the next 48 hours, as a senior shop steward warned that "considerable movement" is needed to reach an agreement. |
| The Acas conciliation service will host talks between the UK's largest trade union and six distributors on Monday, ahead of a 5pm deadline on Tuesday to draw up new proposals. If no agreement is reached by then, Unite faces the choice of setting strike dates in order to maintain its mandate for industrial action, or asking for a mandate extension. | The Acas conciliation service will host talks between the UK's largest trade union and six distributors on Monday, ahead of a 5pm deadline on Tuesday to draw up new proposals. If no agreement is reached by then, Unite faces the choice of setting strike dates in order to maintain its mandate for industrial action, or asking for a mandate extension. |
| Dean Williams, a senior shop steward at Unite's tanker driver branch, said: "Working on the basis that they are agreeing to meet us today I have to be encouraged." Williams, who sits on the Unite oil trades sub-group that rejected initial proposals last week, added: "However the employers have to convince us today that their commitment is not just lip service, and make considerable movement on the document going forward." | Dean Williams, a senior shop steward at Unite's tanker driver branch, said: "Working on the basis that they are agreeing to meet us today I have to be encouraged." Williams, who sits on the Unite oil trades sub-group that rejected initial proposals last week, added: "However the employers have to convince us today that their commitment is not just lip service, and make considerable movement on the document going forward." |
| The distributor that employs the second largest number of Unite-affiliated drivers, Wincanton, indicated last week that further substantial movement is unlikely. Wincanton, which employs 20% of the 2,000 drivers balloted for strike action by Unite, reiterated that national wage bargaining is not on the table. Unite, on the other hand, is seeking a minimum wage level as well as common standards on safety and training across the industry. | The distributor that employs the second largest number of Unite-affiliated drivers, Wincanton, indicated last week that further substantial movement is unlikely. Wincanton, which employs 20% of the 2,000 drivers balloted for strike action by Unite, reiterated that national wage bargaining is not on the table. Unite, on the other hand, is seeking a minimum wage level as well as common standards on safety and training across the industry. |
| The four-page document rejected by Unite after six days of talks includes references to an independent pay study, paid for by fuel distributors, but does not refer to setting a minimum wage. The document also details a way forward on creating minimum standards on health and safety, as well as creating a national forum to oversee those guidelines. | The four-page document rejected by Unite after six days of talks includes references to an independent pay study, paid for by fuel distributors, but does not refer to setting a minimum wage. The document also details a way forward on creating minimum standards on health and safety, as well as creating a national forum to oversee those guidelines. |
| Unite confirmed last week that it is considering staging a token one-hour strike that would extend its strike mandate by 12 weeks and remove the pressure on distributors to grant regular extensions to the union's mandate. The union must give seven days' notice on strikes, meaning that the earliest a walkout can take place is next week. Unite believes a one-hour stoppage will cause minimal disruption to fuel supplies. | Unite confirmed last week that it is considering staging a token one-hour strike that would extend its strike mandate by 12 weeks and remove the pressure on distributors to grant regular extensions to the union's mandate. The union must give seven days' notice on strikes, meaning that the earliest a walkout can take place is next week. Unite believes a one-hour stoppage will cause minimal disruption to fuel supplies. |
| However drivers at Hoyer, which employs more than 500 Unite members and delivers petrol for Esso and Shell, cannot take part in any industrial action for around three weeks after Unite was forced to reballot the workforce in the wake of legal objections by the company. This means that only four out of the seven distributors balloted by Unite will take part in a token strike. Two sets of drivers, at DHL and Suckling, have already voted against strike action. Only six out of the seven distributors balloted have agreed to attend talks at Acas. | However drivers at Hoyer, which employs more than 500 Unite members and delivers petrol for Esso and Shell, cannot take part in any industrial action for around three weeks after Unite was forced to reballot the workforce in the wake of legal objections by the company. This means that only four out of the seven distributors balloted by Unite will take part in a token strike. Two sets of drivers, at DHL and Suckling, have already voted against strike action. Only six out of the seven distributors balloted have agreed to attend talks at Acas. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |