Tanker drivers strike

[grahamw48]

Attachment 6219

[stevewool]

Of course if we'd maintained the inland water ways better we'd be transporting most of this stuff, including most of the frieght, coa,l etc by boats instead of clogging up the roads with hgv's. Works very well over in holland etc.

never will work here, its been tried to ship cargo onto trains to towns but you still have to move it from the station, plus its not just the hgvs clogging the roads

[grahamw48]

There's also been a vast increase in women drivers , also in light vans full of blokes who years ago probably would have been working nearer to their homes in mines or factories, making stuff for the home and export markets.

[stevewool]

thats right the roads are full every day and night, everything takes longer so smile and be happy while you drive your truck, car, van, or anything

[Rosie1958]

Yorkshire.

"A woman has been badly burned after petrol ignited as she transferred it between containers in her kitchen".

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-burne...091318813.html

Ms Hill's injury has prompted firefighters to issue another warning to people about storing petrol in their homes.

Peter Hudson, of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "In domestic situations fuel containers must not be stored in living accommodation such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms or under staircases."

He added: "Never bring petrol inside your home. If you do smell petrol fumes in a garage or outbuilding ventilate the area and make sure nobody smokes or turns electrical switches on or off.

"The slightest spark could cause an explosion."

Meanwhile, Unite, which represents around 2,000 fuel tanker drivers, ruled out the threat of strikes over Easter and said it wanted to focus on talks.

The AA has warned of "stupid and very dangerous" actions being taken by panicked drivers.

In a statement, the motoring organisation said that in Macclesfield, Cheshire, one observer had seen an elderly woman using a petrol pump to fill jam jars.

Another man was seen at the same petrol station filling one gallon washing-up liquid bottles with fuel.

AA president Edmund King said: "Some people seem to have lost any sense of proportion."

[grahamw48]

[hawk]

goverments gone nuts there at fault for causing havok people would not be doing drastic measures if they wasnt pushed i filled up today i didnt panic i just drove in filled up then went 5 min max there wasnt no more there than usual filing up next it will be gov saying there food then it will def all go nuts

[subseastu]

never will work here, its been tried to ship cargo onto trains to towns but you still have to move it from the station, plus its not just the hgvs clogging the roads

True but if you can transport goods closer to their detination by river / canal or indeed rail then you should reduce the amount of haulage using the motorways etc shouldn't you? You are right its not just the hgv's etc that are clogging up the roads, the amount of cars on UK roads is growing very quickly.

[lastlid]

True but if you can transport goods closer to their detination by river / canal or indeed rail then you should reduce the amount of haulage using the motorways etc shouldn't you? You are right its not just the hgv's etc that are clogging up the roads, the amount of cars on UK roads is growing very quickly.

Yes. And I would think safety issues, which seem to be at the core of the tanker drivers grievance, would be lessened (not eliminated) by canal. Only thing is, transport by waterway is painfully slow.

[lastlid]

Hot off the press

Explosive story....

[stevewool]

[QUOTE=lastlid;350538]Yes. And I would think safety issues, which seem to be at the core of the tanker drivers grievance,

safety issues, wha safety issues i causing this, people dont realize that the health and safety issues that tanker drivers go through its just the sme as our drivers and me, to carry some floor cleaners and washing up liquid, even packs of batteries all come under the same licence, drivers hours, well workmore you get paid more, they are ways round everything, i think this has nothing to do with drivers its the unions and the goverment both parties i believe, just my thoughts, dont mean to offend anyone

[grahamw48]

goverments gone nuts there at fault for causing havok people would not be doing drastic measures if they wasnt pushed i filled up today i didnt panic i just drove in filled up then went 5 min max there wasnt no more there than usual filing up next it will be gov saying there food then it will def all go nuts

What we need is for a gov. minister to let slip that all illegals and asylum seekers are going to be sent to Afghanistan to assist the army and police there.

Aaaah the panic to get out of the country.

[lastlid]

[QUOTE=stevewool;350560]

Yes. And I would think safety issues, which seem to be at the core of the tanker drivers grievance,

safety issues, wha safety issues i causing this, people dont realize that the health and safety issues that tanker drivers go through its just the sme as our drivers and me, to carry some floor cleaners and washing up liquid, even packs of batteries all come under the same licence, drivers hours, well workmore you get paid more, they are ways round everything, i think this has nothing to do with drivers its the unions and the goverment both parties i believe, just my thoughts, dont mean to offend anyone

A tanker full of fuel is a higher risk than a lorry full of, say, baby food. If those boys are involved in an accident then the consequences are potentially more dire, Steve.

In our side of the oil industry anything flammable goes by sea and not by helicopter, slightly different I know but similar kind of thing.

Having said that, I am all ears, Steve as I have never driven a lorry.......I just empathise with the saftey side of this issue but I confess I dont know the full story.

[grahamw48]

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They make me nervous.
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[stevewool]

you will be suprized what goes by our lorrys, its like anything,just have to be careful, if a accident happens it will happen, all i am saying you need the same licence to carry chemicals, batteries and fuel,like i said its down to the unions and goverment

[andy222]

I hope there is some fuel left I havnt filled up yet..

[grahamw48]

Starting to investigate alternative transportation now...

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[bigmarco]

The Union has consistently said that the dispute is not about pay, which sounds to me like it's probably greedy employers trying to squeeze as much as possible from existing employees instead of employing more drivers.You cannot compromise safety in areas like fuel transportation .
My Own Union is currently in dispute with our employer as they are trying to get us to drive Underground Trains for longer periods during the Olympics. They are trying to increase our maximum shifts from 8hrs 30 mins to 9hrs 30 mins for the duration of both Olympic Games. They have offered some money as an inducement to agree this temporary change to existing agreements but money is not everything. You do feel tired after spending that time in underground tunnels so to add an extra hour to the day is just dangerous. They have known the Olympics has been coming for years so why not employ some extra drivers to fill any gaps. Incidentally they have offered no amnesty to drivers should they be involved in a safety related incident during this time. So if you have a SPAD (pass a red signal) in your ninth hour it's still down to you.
So in my view although the extra money would be nice when you balance it against the risks involved I'd rather not .

[lastlid]

You do feel tired after spending that time in underground tunnels so to add an extra hour to the day is just dangerous. .

Is the air a bit stale for a long stint down there? I get the impression yes...maybe okay for an hour or so but for 8 hours plus, more problematic?

[lastlid]

So if you have a SPAD (pass a red signal) in your ninth hour it's still down to you.

Interesting, Marco. Can you call "Time Out for Safety" or is that just an oilfield expression? Presumably not when you are pulling a train full of passengers along?

[Dedworth]

As far as I understand it Tube Drivers have to work some public holidays but £45-50k pa for a 35-37 hour week plus 43 days annual leave week isn't to be sniffed at.

There's still a long way to go to match the £133000 pa Fat Cat Comrade Bob Crow trousers

[bigmarco]

Interesting, Marco. Can you call "Time Out for Safety" or is that just an oilfield expression? Presumably not when you are pulling a train full of passengers along?

You can ask for time out if your tired but you cant make a habit of it otherwise your capability to do the job may be questioned.

[grahamw48]

Wow, is that how much they earn ?

[bigmarco]

As far as I understand it Tube Drivers have to work some public holidays but £45-50k pa for a 35-37 hour week plus 43 days annual leave week isn't to be sniffed at.

There's still a long way to go to match the £133000 pa Fat Cat Comrade Bob Crow trousers

Paid for a 35hour week the rest is banked towards annual leave. Bank holidays not recognised.

Leave Bob alone he's worth every penny

[stevewool]

funny the more you earn the more you want, dont get me wrong, whats fair is fair, i have not had a pay rise for 3 years now, but am happy with my wage, i can save for my early retirement, put food on the table and dont have any debt what so ever, be happy in what you do

[bigmarco]

funny the more you earn the more you want, dont get me wrong, whats fair is fair, i have not had a pay rise for 3 years now, but am happy with my wage, i can save for my early retirement, put food on the table and dont have any debt what so ever, be happy in what you do

Steve my point was not about wanting more but about safety. I don't think money should be offered to break pre existing safety parameters. If its deemed not safe to do it now why would ot be considered safe during the Olympics. Much the same as the Tanker drivers where the initial argument is that they are being greedy despite pay not being their issue.
Not sure the way prices have been going that I would be happy with not getting a pay rise for 3 years though, but if your happy with your lot then thats all that matters

[lastlid]

You can ask for time out if your tired but you cant make a habit of it otherwise your capability to do the job may be questioned.

Got you there.

[lastlid]

I recall the Moorgate tube disaster. I was working in London then........

[bigmarco]

Yep remember that one. I believe that was the trigger for Random Drug and Alchohol testing on the job.

[lastlid]

Yet he evidently was neither drinking or on drugs?