Strike by tanker drivers at Cheshire's Stanlow refinery called off as union hails 'pay win'

Unite claimed the walk-outs would affect deliveries to garage forecourts

A strike by Cheshire-based tanker drivers supplying garage forecourts and aviation fuel has been called off after an improved pay deal was agreed, a union has said. Members of Unite based at Stanlow oil refinery had planned to walk out on June 6-8 and 13-15, affecting deliveries across the North West and Scottish Borders.

The drivers, who work for Oxalis - formerly Hoyer which recently rebranded, said their pay offer was significantly lower than that of their colleagues in other parts of the country.

But strike action due to take place last week was postponed and on Monday the union said members had voted to accept an improved pay deal. All scheduled industrial action has now been called off.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Congratulations to Oxalis’s Stanlow tanker drivers, who stood together for better pay and won. This is yet another example of how Unite’s unrelenting focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions is boosting our members’ incomes."

Unite regional officer Paul Lomax added: "This pay win could not have been secured without the hard work and solidarity of our members."

A spokeswoman for the company, which was formerly Hoyer, said: "Oxalis were pleased to resolve the issue with our Stanlow-based drivers without unnecessary industrial action taking place. Whilst the overall value of our pay offer did not change in the final few weeks of negotiations, we were able to satisfy our colleagues’ requests to redirect monies from one element of their pay to another. Most importantly, operations continued as normal and neither our customers or the general public were affected whatsoever."

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