Britain: Emergency Procedures Activated Ahead of Tanker Driver Strike
June 10th, 2008Via: Guardian:
Downing Street today urged motorists not to indulge in panic-buying as the government confirmed that it had activated emergency procedures in preparation for a planned strike by tanker drivers.
The prime minister’s spokesman said that it was “disappointing” that the four-day strike, which is due to start at 6am on Friday and which could affect deliveries to up to 10% of filling stations, was still set to go ahead.
“The most responsible thing the public can do is to continue to buy as normal,” the spokesman said.
Ministers have already activated procedures intended to safeguard fuel for emergency services and to ensure that stocks are moved around the country to areas where there are shortages.
But the government believes it is “inevitable” that some stations could run out of fuel if the strike goes ahead.
One effect of the contingency arrangements, which were last used at the time of the strike at the Grangemouth refinery in April, is to allow oil companies to share information about their supplies by exempting them from the anti-cartel rules that normally prevent this kind of information-sharing.
About 500 drivers who work for haulage companies Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport are due to go on strike. They are the sole suppliers to around 1,000 Shell petrol stations, mainly in south-east England, the north west, central Scotland and the Midlands.
The prime minister’s spokesman told reporters today that the government was “encouraged” that both sides were taking their dispute to Acas, the conciliation service. “We would encourage both sides to get back to the table and to reach a resolution,” he said.
“We do not believe that any strike action is justified because that would disproportionately impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the country not involved in this dispute.”
Asked if he feared panic-buying, he said: “We want the public to continue to buy as normal so as to avoid creating problems that might otherwise not exist.”
John Hutton, the business secretary, activated the emergency procedures to ensure continuity of supply without publicity on Friday. Downing Street described them as “established procedures”.
Please, do not indulge in panic buying. Buy as “normal.” Righto!!!
Please do not indulge in excessive butter on your crumpets during tea time!
Do not think about it.
DO NOT THINK about what a strike will mean to your life.
JOLLY GOOD. DOUBLEPLUS GOOD.“We do not believe that any strike action is justified because that would disproportionately impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the country not involved in this dispute.”
Well, hey-ho, land of Sherlock Holmes, get a freaking clue. The whole point of a strike IS TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT ON THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF MILLIONS of PEOPLE – WHO ARE (not as you would say NOT involved)INVOLVED.
Sheesh oh man. The Oil Bubble Pop is underway. Isn’t is de-loverly?