The threat of industrial action by petrol tanker drivers will return this week as voting closes on proposals thrashed out between the Unite trade union and fuel distributors.
Unite is expected to reveal the result of the consultative ballot on Friday, on the same day the union must declare dates for industrial action in order to maintain its strike mandate.
Senior shop stewards have already rejected the proposals and are now awaiting a response from the 2,000 drivers who have been polled on a document that seeks to end the dispute concerning standards of safety, training, pay and pensions.
Shop stewards and Unite officials discussed the document with members around the country last week. According to a source, about 500 drivers attended the briefings and the prevailing mood was against the proposals. The briefings were held at five UK refineries, including Coryton, in Essex, and Grangemouth, on the Firth of Forth. Unite's assistant general secretary, Diana Holland, also joined some of the meetings.
Holland said the feedback was that the proposals were unsatisfactory. "There is a recognition that progress has been made, but it is clear concerns still remain that the proposals do not go far enough in bringing stability and security to a chaotic industry.
"Over the next few days we'll be encouraging members to have their say on the proposals and the next steps of our campaign to halt the race to the bottom in a vital industry."
In March some motorists dashed to the forecourt to stock up on fuel after government ministers advised people made contingency plans in case of a tanker drivers' strike. It is understood that industrial action was not discussed with drivers during the briefings.
However, a number of options are on the table if the consultative ballot rejects the proposals, with Unite needing to preserve its mandate at the same time.
These options include staging a token one-hour strike to cause minimal disruption but preserve Unite's strike mandate, setting dates for longer strikes, or giving notice for action short of a strike, such as a work-to-rule where employees perform the minimum under their contracts.
If strike dates are announced on Friday there will be no immediate walkouts because Unite must give seven days notice of industrial action; the earliest date for any protest would be 18 May.
Both sides appear to acknowledge that the conciliation process overseen by Acas is exhausted for now. Eight days of talks last month produced a document that had elements favoured by tanker drivers, such as accords on health and safety and training. But Unite shop stewards rejected the plan at a meeting of the union's oil trades sub-group because it did not go far enough on issues such as pay and pensions.
