A brewing industrial dispute involving Grangemouth based tanker drivers could severely impact fuel supplies to airports and forecourts across Scotland.
Unite can confirm that over 30 members employed by Hoyer Gas and Petroleum Logistics Limited backed strike action by 100 per cent on a 97 per cent turnout, after the membership rejected a seven per cent pay offer.
Unite says the current offer falls way short of the drivers’ aspirations, and the offer does nothing to bring them into line with industry standards including the pay levels of other Hoyer drivers based out of the Grangemouth oil terminal.
If Hoyer fails to make a significantly improved offer then Unite will announce firm dates for industrial action. The union is also pointing out that the Hoyer drivers working on the gas and petroleum logistics contract have not had a pay increase since 2021.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s Hoyer tanker drivers are simply seeking a fair day’s pay. There is no reason why Hoyer can’t pay these drivers a higher rate. They are doing exactly the same job for the company but they are being paid significantly below other Hoyer drivers based out of the Grangemouth oil terminal.
“The drivers have Unite’s full support in the fight to drive up pay and conditions.”
Businesses that will be impacted by any prospective strike action include BP and Air BP, ESSO and World Fuels Services (Aviation), which provides aviation fuel transport to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle airports.
Hoyer Gas and Petroleum Logistics Limited recorded a turnover for 2022 of £169.2 million, up 22 per cent on 2021.
The company made a profit of £4.1 million in 2022, a 369 per cent increase on 2021.
Unite regional officer Lyn Turner, who represents the workers at Grangemouth, said: “Hoyer needs to significantly improve its current pay offer, if it fails to grasp this opportunity then Unite will have no option but to announce strike action.”
“The tanker drivers working on this Hoyer contract are getting paid less than other Hoyer drivers at Grangemouth. This is simply unacceptable. If there is no movement by Hoyer, workers will be forced to take strike action which would severely impact Scottish airports and forecourts.”
Hoyer said efforts would continue to try and avoid a damaging strike: “During the negotiations so far we have made our drivers at Grangemouth an offer in excess of 14%, well above both the rate of inflation and current levels of earnings increases across all sectors,” said a Hoyer spokesperson.
“Our Grangemouth drivers’ pay is already far in excess of average salary rates in the UK and, given that we remain in a cost of living crisis and further cost rises will inevitably reach British motorists at the pump, we have a general responsibility not to offer unsustainable increases.
“In the meantime, we will continue to negotiate with the Union in good faith whilst simultaneously working on contingency plans to mitigate any disruption should industrial action proceed.”
