Acas proposals raise hopes of averting fuel tanker drivers strike

Proposals aimed at resolving the fuel tanker drivers dispute were drawn up last night, raising hopes strikes can be averted.

Union Unite held talks all week with officials from six distribution companies under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas.

Peter Harwood, Acas chief conciliator, said: “Over the past fortnight the six contractors have met with the Unite trade union through the Acas conciliation service. Acas has been shuttling between the parties and the process has been a challenging one but we are pleased to announce that a set of proposals have been reached.

“As you would expect the details of the proposals are confidential until the parties report back to their respective organisations. After that, the details may be disclosed by the parties themselves.”

Unite had earlier been given an extension to a deadline for declaring strikes in the fuel tanker drivers dispute so that peace talks could continue.

By law, the union should have made a decision by late afternoon on whether to call its 2,000 members in the industry out on strike after last month’s vote for industrial action.