Unite announce a deal with 6 fuel companies

Unite the union have reached a possible deal with six fuel companies in talks over pay and conditions.

2,000 members voted to strike earlier in the month, which would have caused havoc for motorists across the country.

Unite the union says: "Now we're in a position where we have a document which we can take back to our delegates and reps to discuss."

The contents of the final set of proposals agreed between Acas, Unite the union and representatives from fuel companies will remain confidential.

Unite has said the document will go to the union representatives and their delegates for discussion.
Assistant general secretary of Unite, Diana Holland, said: "We have done as much as we can and we have a document we can now discuss but we will keep the process confidential until the people who matter make the decision."

Peter Harwood, Acas chief conciliator, described the talks as "challenging" but said: "Acas is pleased at this development and hope that the matter will soon be settled."

Earlier on Friday, Unite was given an extension to the deadline for declaring industrial action so that negotiations could continue.

Under employment law, the union should have decided by late afternoon whether to call its 2,000 members in the industry out on strike after the vote last month.

The dispute has been brewing for more than a year but flared up in March when Unite announced that workers in five firms had voted to strike.

The union has been demanding minimum standards on pay, hours, holiday and redundancy as well as action on health and safety. 

There was a spate of panic-buying of fuel by motorists last month after the Government advised them to top up their tanks because of the threat of a walkout.

Chaotic scenes and long queues were seen at garages across the country following the Government's advice, which was heavily criticised .