Aviation bosses are being told face disruption to fuel deliveries as tanker drivers based in Grangemouth walk out in a dispute over pay.
Staff at Turners of Soham, who work on the Q8 Aviation Deliveries contract which provides fuel services for a number of major aviation companies, will down tools until Friday January 14.
The strike follows 100% of Unite members voting to take industrial action at the end of December 2021.
The Union is blaming a lack of progress after months of negotiations with the company, and warn further walkout dates are to be planned in the coming weeks.
Its members based at Grangemouth have been offered an 8.7% increase, despite the same company awarding its drivers in the North West of England 17.5% in October of last year.
Turners of Soham reported an operating profit of £57 million in 2021 up from £34 million in 2019, and the company’s Managing Director, Paul Day, has a Rich List estimated personal wealth of £350 million.
Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "Unite logistic drivers working for Turners of Soham have unanimously backed taking strike action in this dispute over pay.
"The logistics sector is suffering from chronic staff shortages and the challenge of retaining workers.
"Therefore, it's baffling why this profitable company is not offering our members the fair pay award they deserve.
"Unite will resolutely support our members taking strike action to defend jobs, pay and conditions, and we urge the company to get back round the negotiating table."
Unite Regional Officer, Lyn Turner, said: "The strike action by logistic drivers based out of Grangemouth will have a significant impact on fuel supplies for major airlines.
"The pay negotiations have dragged on for months now with Turners of Soham adopting an intransigent attitude towards a key group of workers.
"The company has an incredibly healthy balance sheet and its Managing Director, Paul Day, has publicly said that drivers need to be ‘valued and appropriately paid’.
"Yet, it is refusing to award the drivers the pay rise they deserve.
"The first wave of strike action will end on 14 January with further dates forthcoming if no progress is made."
