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Tanker drivers edge close to strike in Britain
LONDON — Fuel tanker drivers in Britain on Monday voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike, bringing the possibility of industrial action a step closer, a leading union said.
Around 2,000 members of the Unite union at seven companies were balloted for the first national campaign of action in over a decade, with those at five companies supporting walkouts.
Unite said industrial action was backed by an average of nearly 70 percent in the five firms, which deliver fuel to Shell and Esso filling stations as well as to supermarkets.
The drivers are protesting at safety standards and their terms and conditions.
A statement from Unite said: “Tanker drivers work in an increasingly fragmented and pressurised industry, where corners are being cut on safety and training in a bid to squeeze profits and win contracts.”
Energy minister Edward Davey accused the unions of putting Britain’s international reputation at risk just months before London hosts the Olympics and promised the government would use special powers to ensure fuel deliveries.
“The Unite ballot result is disappointing,” Davey said said. “The government is strongly of the view that strike action is wrong and unnecessary.
“The union should be getting round the negotiating table, not planning to disrupt the lives of millions of people across Britain.
“With the London 2012 Olympics approaching, it is unacceptable and selfish to behave in this manner and jeopardise our international reputation.”
Soldiers are undergoing training to deliver fuel to filling stations in case tanker drivers go ahead with a strike.
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