LONDON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite the union and Hoyer have agreed to meet with the conciliation service ACAS in the next few days in an attempt to avoid the disruption of fuel supplies to Shell garage forecourts. Tanker drivers are set to hold a four day strike from Friday 13th to Monday 16th June in a dispute over pay. Talks with Hoyer broke down earlier today.

Unite, national officer Ron Webb said:

"It is time Shell intervened directly and stopped leaving this problem in the hands of its contractor. Shell makes over GBP1 billion a month in profits and there is no excuse for allowing tanker drivers to be paid no more than they were getting fifteen years ago.

"Our members are upset that these negotiations have dragged on for seven months. It's high time that this super rich business shared its success with these employees. Shell/Hoyer tanker drivers are paid GBP32,000 per anum, roughly the same as they were paid in 1992. Since being contracted out to Hoyer they have seen their pay cut which has led to a worsening of their pension provision.

"The tanker driver's current claim would not even restore their relative pay position to the level it was fifteen years ago."

Contact Ciaran Naidoo on +44(0)7768-931-315 or Pauline Doyle on +44(0)7976-832-861