The union Unite has announced ballots being held across the industry, the dispute being over working conditions and pensions, if the ballots vote is for strike this would see a possible walk out of the tanker drivers in either late February or early March.

The union main point of concern is that many oil companies and supermarkets have contracted out the driving to haulage firms, thus cutting cost unite have stated ” The price of oil is heading for $100 a barrel, this is not an industry suffering like many others the profits are astronomical, Employers have their heads in the sand, if they think they can continue to attack these drivers terms and conditions.

In response UK Petroleum stated ” The impact of a walk out will depend on the Government’s response and how resilient their emergency plans are.” and “As always panic buying is the real problem and often that is what leads to shortages.”