Total oil tanker drivers are set to ballot on whether or not to take industrial action over the company's plans to break up its national distribution network. Ron Webb, from the TGWU section of trade union Unite, says shop stewards have agreed to a national ballot of 270 drivers by the middle of August over Total's decision to end its one national contract with Wincanton.
From October 1, the South-east and South-west con-tracts will go to Turners of Soham and DHL respectively, with all
other deliveries to remain at Wincanton. Webb says: "We have no assurances on jobs, no assurances on pensions and no assurances on keeping our negotiating machinery." Total says a "full consultation" with drivers has already begun and its suppliers are holding meetings to discuss drivers' job security, pensions and negotiation procedures.
It adds: "Total UK has had assurances from Turners (Soham) and DHL Exel Supply Chain that the rights of drivers will remain protected and unaffected by our review of our UK road transport distribution operations. "Wincanton has confirmed that its drivers employed on the contract from October 1 will remain on their existing terms and will be unaffected by this review."
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