Union leaders say there could soon be petrol shortages and flight delays in the North West as tanker drivers in Ellesmere Port prepare to go on strike.
It was revealed on Thursday that workers employed by Hoyer Petrolog UK Ltd, based in the Cheshire town, will take industrial action in a dispute over pay.
According to Unite, the workers are employed on the Flexi-Fleet Petrolog contract and undertake deliveries to Euro garages and Exxon Esso forecourts.
The firm, whose headquarters are in Huddersfield, also delivers aviation fuel to Leeds Bradford airport on behalf of Essar and Liverpool John Lennon airport on behalf of World Fuels Services, and the dispute would also impact the operations of BP, Shell and Essar at the Stanlow refinery.
A spokesperson for Hoyer said on Thursday talks between the company and Unite "remain ongoing at a senior level" to reach a "productive conclusion", and that no ballot for industrial action is planned.
But Unite the union said on Thursday that the dispute is a result of Hoyer operating "several different contracts" from the Ellesmere Port hub - but employing tanker drivers on different terms and conditions and different rates of pay.
Unite regional officer Steve Gerrard said: “Our members are highly qualified, skilled and dedicated but Hoyer is ignoring this when bidding for contracts, in what can only be described as a race to the bottom.
“Hoyer has said it has to remain competitive when bidding for contracts but our members have made it clear that they will no longer accept the inbuilt pay disparity.
“If strike action occurs it will have a massive impact on fuel deliveries throughout the North West and beyond.
“However our members will only take strike action as a last resort. Unite remains open to negotiations at any time. However, the only way a dispute can now be avoided is if the company takes the pay claim seriously.”
Unite said the workers have "overwhelmingly" backed action in a "consultative" ballot - and a full industrial ballot is now being prepared.
If they vote to strike, disruption to garages and airports could begin in autumn.
Unite said its members on the Flexi-Fleet Petrolog contract were prepared to enter into a three-year pay deal, provided the pay disparities, which results in the Flexi-Fleet drivers being paid £2 an hour less than their colleagues, would be closed, but said Hoyer refused to tackle the pay disparity.
Unite members are also angry that the pay of a Hoyer director has increased.
Responding, a spokesperson for Hoyer said: “Talks between the company and Unite the Union remain ongoing at a senior level to reach a productive conclusion to our discussions with this small group of drivers.
"This process has now confirmed that no ballot for industrial action is actually planned to take place. HOYER Petrolog has business-wide contingencies in place to ensure continued service through a range of potential scenarios and we are confident that there is no threat to supply.”
