....OMG..........PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tamiyoman]

Why should'nt the gov try to turn the publics eye when all they want is more pay (they well paid already), plus fuel does not "slosh around" as much as you may think, the tankers are segmented and baffled to reduce this issue, driving a tanker filled with fuel is no different to how a tanker full of milk would be driven the only things different are how its handled either end and loaded/unloaded.

If they try to strike, let em strike and let the Army drive instead, might make em think about striking for more pay when others are losing jobs and not had pay increase for last 4 years!!

[vRS Carl]

It mentions pay and conditions in the Telegraph Article.

Oh and i quite often get told to do more and more without extra pay. I'm in the forces and it goes with the territory

I never said i believed everything from "the government mouthpiece" as you put it. But as with anything i can only go by what is broadcast on the news, as can you unless you happen to be a tanker driver or a member of Unite.

[RedRobin]

.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of this imminent dispute/strike, I think that ANY guvn'ment of ANY political persuasion is absolutely right to bring in other skilled drivers (in this case The Army) because it's important to keep the whole country and economy going in spite of those who would disrupt everyone else by striking.

[Tamiyoman]

.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of this imminent dispute/strike, I think that ANY guvn'ment of ANY political persuasion is absolutely right to bring in other skilled drivers (in this case The Army) because it's important to keep the whole country and economy going in spite of those who would disrupt everyone else by striking.

 

They have done it before and will do it again if its to protect both the working public and the economy.

To me it just smacks of greed, if they wish to pay for my training im happy to take over someones 56K+ job for only 40K a year 

[vRS Carl]

I've just had a thought of sheer genius proportions.

I can get the lads to divert a tanker of V-Power to my house 

I wonder if i could get through it before the strike ends 

[Tfsi_Mike]

No momentum left at Tesco don't think there's much in the tank of the Cupra down in Bedford but the lupo is brimmed & I have 25L of vpower from yesterday. (not panic buying, was fulfilling my vpower bonus quota but the lupo tank is tiny lol)

[Horatio]

 it will not be a problem because people in this country are totally spineless, are only interested in going shopping and will not support the strike.  

[RedRobin]

it will not be a problem because people in this country are totally spineless, are only interested in going shopping and will not support the strike.  

....I prefer the term "comfortably numb":

^ Dave Gilmore's solo guitar work at its very best!  

[Phil Miller]

Where does it say in that article it's about pay?? It mentions what they are paid, which has very little to do with the issue, their salary is only being used to turn public support against them.

Are you blind  

Here a little help for you.

While their main concerns are pay and conditions, which are matters for their employers, they have also raised health and safety. We take health and safety very seriously and will be looking carefully at what Unite is saying.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/25/army-standby-petrol-tanker-strike?newsfeed=true

According to union officials, fracturing the industry into a patchwork of smaller suppliers is leading to a lowering of standards and pay. Because fuel and truck costs cannot be lowered easily, Unite claims that haulage firms are targeting staff and training costs instead. As a consequence, hauliers are seeking a minimum wage rate and an agreed set of pan-industry standards.

Does that help  

No, not particularly, you carry on and believe what some government mouth piece has to say on the issue, the government will say anything to turn the the general public against this strike even more than they already are. The hoyer spokesman and the union guy did not mention it was about a pay rise for their current terms and conditions, they want more work out of them for the same pay, is that something any of you would happily do in your current jobs????

Calm down, the lack of petrol at the pumps will have a massive effect on my income aswell, im a mechanic and also a recovery driver, the A30 into cornwall is dead atm, no cars=no breakdowns, which means less income for me as we approch one of the best weekends to be on call

P.S you gotta admit you walked right into the replies  

[vRStu]

I watched this on Sky earlier and they were quoting a Tanker Driver as saying the Army won't be able to manage it and that the job was much more difficult that it looks.  Hmm, ok.

Not sure what planet he was on but these boys drive fcuking big trucks around Afghan etc so I don't think the M6 with a tanker full of V Power will be a cause for concern.

We got the same story when the Fire Strike was on, we managed it.  The biggest balls up there was not going into the stations and taking the proper appliances instead of using the retired stuff.

It really isn't as easy as you think

As an LGV licence holder myself I do have some experience, not to mention driving a fully loaded Green Goddess during the Fireman's strike.

They are bleating crap about safety etc.  The rules are quite simple, the vehicles must meet the standards required to transport hazardous goods, the driver must hold an LGV Licence and ADR Licence (The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) and of course comply with the current Tachograph regulations.

It's probably one of the most heavily regulated areas of road transport.

[gti yorks]

it will not be a problem because people in this country are totally spineless, are only interested in going shopping and will not support the strike.  

Shopping and drawing wrong conclusions without the relevant facts. Because there is a recession people automatically assume the strikers are being greedy and trying to gain more money, when intact a lot of companies and using the recession as an excuse to lower wages and worsen conditions. The same was tried at a company i worked at, 5 of us left as its a matter of principle, some can work for them sort of companies, I can't.

[gti yorks]

Where does it say in that article it's about pay?? It mentions what they are paid, which has very little to do with the issue, their salary is only being used to turn public support against them.

Are you blind  

Here a little help for you.

While their main concerns are pay and conditions, which are matters for their employers, they have also raised health and safety. We take health and safety very seriously and will be looking carefully at what Unite is saying.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/25/army-standby-petrol-tanker-strike?newsfeed=true

According to union officials, fracturing the industry into a patchwork of smaller suppliers is leading to a lowering of standards and pay. Because fuel and truck costs cannot be lowered easily, Unite claims that haulage firms are targeting staff and training costs instead. As a consequence, hauliers are seeking a minimum wage rate and an agreed set of pan-industry standards.

Does that help  

No, not particularly, you carry on and believe what some government mouth piece has to say on the issue, the government will say anything to turn the the general public against this strike even more than they already are. The hoyer spokesman and the union guy did not mention it was about a pay rise for their current terms and conditions, they want more work out of them for the same pay, is that something any of you would happily do in your current jobs????

Calm down, the lack of petrol at the pumps will have a massive effect on my income aswell, im a mechanic and also a recovery driver, the A30 into cornwall is dead atm, no cars=no breakdowns, which means less income for me as we approch one of the best weekends to be on call

P.S you gotta admit you walked right into the replies  

I am calm mate, yeah I walked into the replies, no doubt about that, but my point was that both side had commented in the article (telegraph)about safe working practices etc

[vRStu]

it will not be a problem because people in this country are totally spineless, are only interested in going shopping and will not support the strike. 

Shopping and drawing wrong conclusions without the relevant facts. Because there is a recession people automatically assume the strikers are being greedy and trying to gain more money, when intact a lot of companies and using the recession as an excuse to lower wages and worsen conditions. The same was tried at a company i worked at, 5 of us left as its a matter of principle, some can work for them sort of companies, I can't.

Whilst I somewhat agree with your comments I'm always drawn to liken it to those who will probably keep the country running this time as they have done before but also stand on the front line - For a lot less than your average fuel tanker driver and for a lot more than 37 hours week.  Also with what remains of a 3 year no wage increase kindly donated by the Government.

Don't get me wrong I fully support the theory of make your choice, you take your chances but really??  In hard times greed doesn't help anyone.

[vRS Carl]

I am calm mate, yeah I walked into the replies, no doubt about that, but my point was that both side had commented in the article (telegraph)about safe working practices etc

You said they weren't striking about Pay when they were. That's why i was sarcastic  

Half the problem with this country is that people are too unwilling to just do a little bit extra. I fully accept that the line has to be drawn somewhere but striking and potentially bringing the country to it's knee's isn't the answer IMHO

A recent week long strike over fuel cost Nigeria $1.2bn in lost revenue. Imagine what will happen to the UK economy if the country is halted due to a fuel shortage. They reckon the royal wedding cost the country an estimated £620m - £1bn and that was just for a 4 day bank holiday where a lot of people still worked.

[RedRobin]

.
I am reminded of the expression:

"I don't want much... I just want a lot of it!"

I think it's time for me to have another listen to Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'.